Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Effects of Thalassotherapy on the cardiovascular
response of hypertense individuals
Gato S (1) , Israel V (1)
(1) Universidad Federal de Paraná. Curitiba. Brazil
veral.israel@gmail.com
Introduction and Objectives
PURPOSE: To verify the effects of thalassotherapy on the behaviour of arterial
systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate in
controlled hypertense individuals. RELEVANCE: In the process of arterial systemic
hypertension physical activity is crucial for the systemic control of hypertension
throughout an individual´s life.
Materials and Methods
PARTICIPANTS: The sample was comprised of 12 hypertense individuals residing
in the municipality of Matinhos – PR, who did not perform physical activity,
mean age being 66.5 ±. METHODS: Following the Research Ethics Committee
resolution, participants were assessed prior to and after the onset of the exercise
program, in the following variables: anthropometrics, cardio-respiratory aptitude
and quality of life survey SF-36. The physical activity program was comprised of
warm-up exercises, muscle stretching and walking in the sea water, referred to as
thalassotherapy, a hydrotherapy strategy, with the gathering of data such as heart
rate and arterial pressure, before and after the activities. Arterial systolic blood
pressure (SBP) and arterial diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured by means
of auscultation prior to and following physical exercise, Participants were reassessed
after the 12 thalassotherapy sessions. ANALYSIS: The Mann Whitney U
Test was the statistical method used, p≤0.05 being considered significant. ETHICS
APPROVAL: This research follows the guidelines of Resolution 196/ 96 by the
Brazilian Ministry of Health having been assessed and approved by the Research
Ethics Committee under number 554.091.08.06 at UFPR.
Results
It was observed that the behavior of systolic and diastolic pressure was significantly
reduced following walking and thalassotherapy sessions, as compared to the
initial values.
Conclusions
After 4 weeks of thalassotherapy application benefits could be seen by means of
a reduction in the arterial systolic blood pressure. Therefore the trial proposes the
intervention as a treatment and prevention measure of Arterial Systemic Blood
Pressure. Physical Therapy can use the hydrotherapeutic strategy of thalassotherapy
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 409-410
409
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4