Effets de l'immersion en eau tempérée, en eau froide et de l'immersion contrastée sur le calibre des veines des membres inférieurs

Objectives Immersion is often used within the framework of post-exercise recovery. Vascular effects connected to immersion are not all understood. In this study we examined the changes in common femoral vein and great saphenous vein cross-section during thermoneutral, cold, and contrasting (cold followed by hot) water immersion. Methods Ten professional handball players visited the laboratory on three occasions. At each visit, they completed a 20-minutes procedure in an upright position: 4-minutes in air (baseline) and then 16-minutes of lower limbs thermoneutral (∼35 °C), cold (∼12 °C) or contrasting (2:2 minutes [∼12 °C to ∼35 °C] ratio) water temperature immersion, in a random order. Common femoral vein and great saphenous vein cross-sections were evaluated using echo Doppler at baseline and at the end of the 16 minute immersion period under each condition. Results Common femoral vein cross-section was significantly increased after 16 minutes of immersion after each condition (+20.6% with thermoneutral, +14% with contrast and +7% with cold-water immersion, main effect for time P < 0.05). At the great saphenous vein, there was a significant enlargement (+13%, P < 0.05) with thermoneutral water immersion, no difference (+1.4%, P > 0.05) during contrasting water temperature immersion and a significant decrease (−19%, P < 0.05) after 16 minutes of cold-water immersion. Conclusion Hydrostatic pressure, which is the same in the three immersion conditions, leads to an increase of the common femoral vein (deep venous system) cross-section no matter the water temperature. Conversely, the changes in great saphenous vein cross-section (superficial venous system) appear related to water temperature variations. This is probably related to thermoregulation mechanisms, which induce modifications in skin blood flow.