Comparison of Blood Pressure and Pulse Adaptations Between Younger and Older Patients During Balneotherapy With Physiotherapy

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the blood pressure and pulse adaptation characteristics between younger and older patients with musculoskeletal disorders during acute and recovery responses at the first and 10th sessions of balneotherapy added to physiotherapy.

Methods

Forty-six participants (n = 22, between 18 and 35 years of age as young adults; n = 24, more than 65 years of age as older adults) with musculoskeletal disorders admitted to physiotherapy therapy sessions with balneotherapy were enrolled. The participants’ immersion time was 20 minutes each during 10 sessions occurring over the course of 2 weeks. Blood pressure and pulse were measured at the baseline and the 5th minute as acute responses, and at the baseline and the 30th minute as recovery responses during the first and 10th sessions.

Results

First, the group and session effect was examined. There was no significance in this part. Then, session main effect and group main effect were examined. The group main effect was significant, that is, a difference was found between groups independent of the session in terms of only pulse values (P < .001). There was no difference in sessions. The acute and recovery responses of the pulse at the first and 10th sessions of balneotherapy showed higher alterations in the young people compared with the older people (P < .008).

Conclusion

Greater pulse alterations at the acute and recovery phases of the first and 10th sessions were observed in young adults.