Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T19:18:50.013Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of water temperature on heart rate of horses during water treadmill exercise

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2008

K J Nankervis ,
S Thomas  and
D J Marlin
K J Nankervis
Affiliation:
Hartpury College, Hartpury Equine Veterinary and Therapy Centre, Gloucester, GloucestershireGL19 3BE, UK
S Thomas
Affiliation:
Hartpury College, Hartpury Equine Veterinary and Therapy Centre, Gloucester, GloucestershireGL19 3BE, UK
D J Marlin*
Affiliation:
Hartpury College, Hartpury Equine Veterinary and Therapy Centre, Gloucester, GloucestershireGL19 3BE, UK
*
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

While there have been several studies of heart rates (HRs) of horses during exercise in water, the effect of exercise in water of different temperatures has not been reported. While the increase in HR during exercise is primarily related to the intensity of exercise and therefore metabolic rate, increasing body temperature can also contribute to elevations in HR separate to muscle metabolic activity per se. When exercising in water, as the thermal conductivity is greater than that of air, the temperature of the water can have a marked influence on body temperature and heat exchange compared with exercise in air. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of water temperature on HR of horses walking for 16 min on a water treadmill in water up to the height of the scapulohumeral joint. Eight horses were studied in three separate exercise tests in water at 13, 16 and 19°C in a randomised order in an ambient temperature between 4 and 10°C. HR was recorded continuously throughout exercise. Mean HR over the 16 min exercise period was the lowest in 13°C water (79 ± 6 bpm), intermediate in 16°C water (89 ± 7 bpm) and the highest in 19°C water (92 ± 5 bpm). A one-way ANOVA and post hoc least significant difference test comparing mean HRs at each temperature showed that there was a significant difference between HRs in water at 13 and 16°C (P < 0.0001) and in water at 13 and 19°C (P < 0.0001), but not between water at 16 and 19°C (P>0.05). Individual HRs for horses during the first minute of exercise in water of 13°C were significantly different from those in water at 16°C (P < 0.0001) and 19°C (P < 0.0001). The gradients of the log HR–time relationships showed a significant difference between exercise in the latter part of exercise in 19°C when compared with 13°C (t = 34.0, P < 0.05) and 16°C (t = 67.4, P < 0.05), suggesting that cardiovascular drift is likely when exercising in temperatures of 19°C and above. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the effect of water temperature in the range of 13–19°C on the HR of horses during water treadmill exercise. Further studies to investigate the effect of different water depth and temperature combinations are indicated.

Keywords

partial submersioncardiovascular driftconductive coolingthermoregulation
Type
Research Paper
Information
Comparative Exercise Physiology , Volume 5 , Issue 3-4 , November 2008 , pp. 127 - 131
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Nankervis, KJ and Williams, RJ (2006). Heart rate responses of horses during acclimation to water treadmill exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 36: 110–112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Tokuriki, M, Ohtsuki, R, Kai, M, Hiraga, A, Oki, H, Miyahara, Y and Aoki, O (1999). EMG activity of the muscles of the neck and forelimbs during different forms of locomotion. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 30: 231–234.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3Lindner, A, Wurm, S, Beuttler, J and Sasse, HHL (2003). Effect of water height on biochemistry and heart rate of horses exercising on a treadmill submerged in water. Proceedings of the 18th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society, 4–7 Lansing, East Lansing, MI, pp. 204–206.Google Scholar
4Voss, B, Mohr, E and Krzywanek, H (2002). Effects of aqua-treadmill exercise on selected blood parameters and on heart rate variability. Journal of Veterinary Medicine A 49: 137–143.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Wilcock, IA, Cronin, JB and Hing, WA (2006). Physiological response to water immersion. A method for sport recovery? Sports Medicine 36(9): 747–765.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Tipton, MJ, Golden, FSC, Higenbottam, C, Mekjavic, IB and Eglin, CM (1998). Temperature dependence of habituation of the initial responses to cold-water immersion. European Journal of Applied Physiology 78: 253–257.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Fujishima, K, Shimizu, T, Ogaki, T, Hotta, N, Kanaya, S, Shono, T and Ueda, T (2001). Thermoregulatory responses to low-intensity prolonged swimming in water at various temperatures and treadmill walking on land. Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science 20(3): 199–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Gleim, GW and Nicholas, JA (1989). Metabolic costs and heart rate responses to treadmill walking in water at different depths and temperatures. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 17(2): 248–252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9Shimizu, T, Kosaka, M and Fujishima, K (1998). Human thermoregulatory responses during prolonged walking in water at 25, 30 and 35°C. European Journal Applied Physiology 78: 473–478.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10Geor, RJ, McCutcheon, LJ, Ecker, GL and Lindinger, MI (1995). Thermal and cardiorespiratory responses of horses to submaximal exercise under hot and humid conditions. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 20: 125–132.Google Scholar
11Marlin, DJ, Scott, CM, Schroter, RC, Mills, PC, Harris, RC, Harris, PA, Orme, CE, Roberts, CA, Marr, C, Dyson, SJ and Barrelet, F (1996). Physiological responses in non-heat acclimated horses performing treadmill exercise in cool (20°C/40% RH), hot dry (30°C/40% RH) and hot humid (30°C/80% RH) conditions. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 22: 70–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12Fujishima, K and Shimizu, T (2003). Body temperature, oxygen uptake and heart rate during walking in water an on land at an exercise intensity based on RPE in elderly men. Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science 22(2): 83–88.Google Scholar