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Int J Sports Med 2016; 37(08): 591-597
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-103589
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Elevations in Intra-cranial blood flow velocities following a SCUBA Dive and the Influence of Post-dive Exercise

O. F. Barak   *
1   Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Department of Physiology, Novi Sad, Serbia
,
K. Caljkusic   *
2   University Hospital Centre Split, Department of Neurology, Split, Croatia
,
D. Madden
3   University of Split School of Medicine, Integrative physiology, Split, Croatia
,
P. N. Ainslie
4   University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia, Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, Kelowna, Canada
,
D. Slavic
1   Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Department of Physiology, Novi Sad, Serbia
,
A. Buca
2   University Hospital Centre Split, Department of Neurology, Split, Croatia
,
Z. Dujic
3   University of Split School of Medicine, Integrative physiology, Split, Croatia
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 02 August 2015

Publication Date:
13 May 2016 (online)

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Abstract

The effect that a SCUBA dive has on cerebral blood flow (CBF) at rest and during exercise is poorly understood. We examined the hypothesis that the altered hemodynamic parameters following a SCUBA dive will lead to differential changes in CBF at rest and during exercise. 16 divers completed a field-based study with a single dive at a depth of 18 m sea water with a 47-min bottom time. A follow-up laboratory based study was conducted – 1 week later. Intra-cranial velocities were measured with transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) pre-dive, post-dive at rest and throughout incremental exercise until exhaustion. Following the dive at rest, middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) was elevated 15 and 30 min after surfacing (by 3.3±5.8 and 4.0±6.9 cm/s, respectively; p<0.05); posterior cerebral artery velocity (PCAv) was increased at 30 min after surfacing (by 3.0±4.5 cm/s; p<0.05). During exercise following the dive, both MCAv and PCAv increased up to 150W followed by a decrease towards baseline at 180W (p<0.05). We found no difference in CBV during exercise between field and laboratory studies (p<0.05). The novel finding of this study is the transient elevation in resting intra-cranial velocities within 30 min following a SCUBA dive.

Key words

SCUBA diving - cerebral blood flow - transcranial doppler ultrasound

* Authors contributed equally


 

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