Water immersion produces significant effects upon both the heart and the peripheral circulation. These effects are quite sensitive to water temperature. Research has previously shown that warmer water produces autonomic effects upon the heart and vascular system that parallel those effects upon body systems associated with relaxation. There may be an ideal temperature to obtain a maximal relaxation effect but this has not been previously studied. Similarly, a relationship to immersion duration has not been studied. It would be useful for the aquatic industry to have information supporting guidelines to achieve beneficial autonomic effects, and to understand the relationship between temperature and effects upon the heart and circulation. Over the spring and summer we have studied the relationship of a number of measures of autonomic regulation including heart rate, rate variability and peripheral blood flow in subjects over a range of ages to immersion at cool, neutral and hot water temperatures, and the time course of these effects seen during immersion. This is the first presentation of the results noted to date. A graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine, Dr. Becker completed his residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Washington. Prior to moving to Spokane, Dr. Becker was an Associate Professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine as well as Residency Program Director for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Wayne State University School of Medicine. He served as Vice President of Medical Affairs for the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan from January, 1992 until June, 1998. Dr. Becker became Medical Director of St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane, WA. in May 1999, serving in that role until December 2004. He holds the academic titles of Clinical Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington, School of Medicine, and Adjunct Assoc. Professor at Washington State University, Pullman, WA. Prior to assuming those roles, he was in private practice with Rehabilitation Medicine Associates in Eugene, Oregon, where he founded the Oregon Rehabilitation Center, and served as its Medical Director for many years. He has been interested in fitness, conditioning and the medical problems of the performing athlete throughout his career. He has a major interest in aquatic rehabilitation, and is a Past President of the American Society of Medical Hydrology. In 1997, Dr. Becker and Andrew Cole, MD co-authored the textbook Comprehensive Aquatic Therapy published by Butterworth-Heinemann, which is also published in Portuguese and German, with the 2nd edition published in 2004 by Elsevier. He has published chapters on aquatic therapy in the leading textbooks in rehabilitation, and lectured nationally and internationally in the area of aquatics. He is the 2005 recipient and Principle Investigator of the largest research grant ever awarded by the National Swimming Pool foundation. In 1996, Dr. Becker was chosen for listing in Best Doctors in America, Midwest Edition by Woodward and White, and was honored by his peers in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 through his selection to the Best Doctors in America: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation listing. In 1999, Dr. Becker was honored by being named Aquatic Professional of the Year by the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Institute at their annual meeting in San Diego. He has been listed annually in Who’s Who in Aquatics since 1999, and was named to the Power 25 list by Aquatics International magazine in February 2006.
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