ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2014 April;173(4):185-95

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effects of aquatic exercises on selected physiological variables in panic disorder patients

Olamazadeh S. ¹, Taghian F. ², Barakatain M. ³, Rahnama N. ⁴

¹ Faculty of Sports Science, Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan (Isfahan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran; ² Faculty of Sports Science, Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan (Isfahan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran; ³ Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; ⁴ Faculty of Sport Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aquatic exercises on respiratory, fatigue and lactate level in panic disorders patients.
METHODS: Thirty-eight women patients with panic disorders (age 35.8±8.3 yrs, weight 67.7±13.2 kg, height 183.5±5.3 cm) were selected after medical screening, and were randomly divided into two control (N.=19) and experimental (N.=19) groups. Pulmonary indices and forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow in one second (FEV), volume rate of FEV1% were measured using spirometer and fatigue was measured using multidimensional fatigue inventory questionnaire, blood lactate level in resting position using lactometer. All variables were measured in rest and at the end of the 12th week intervention. The experimental group participated in a 12-week aquatic exercise (one-hour, three sessions per week with the maximum heart rate reserve intensity of 50-85%), while the control group continued their normal life. Paird-samples t-test was used for analyse of data (P<0.05).
RESULTS: The results of this study showed that, FVC, FEV and FEV1% increased significantly after 12 weeks of aquatic exercise intervention (P<0.05). The fatigue reduced significantly (P<0.05) significant changes in blood lactate levels (P<0.05) was observed.
CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that aquatic exercise could be used as a supplementary therapeutic method in improving fatigue and respiratory factors, for treatment of panic patients.