Final answer:
During full immersion therapy, changes in CO, HR, SBP, and VC can be observed. CO may increase due to an increase in HR and stroke volume. HR and SBP can also increase due to the body's response to immersion, while VC may decrease due to vasoconstriction.
Step-by-step explanation:
During full immersion therapy, several changes can be seen in different physiological variables such as CO (cardiac output), HR (heart rate), SBP (systolic blood pressure), and VC (vascular compliance).
CO, which is the volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, can increase during full immersion therapy due to the body's response to being submerged. This increase in CO is mainly attributed to an increase in HR and stroke volume (SV), which is the amount of blood pumped out by the heart in each contraction. As the body adapts to the immersion, HR and SV can increase, leading to an increase in CO.
Similarly, HR and SBP can also increase during full immersion therapy. The body's response to immersion, especially when the body is exposed to cold water, can trigger an increase in sympathetic activity, resulting in elevated HR and SBP. This is part of the larger diving reflex, which diverts blood flow to essential organs while submerged.
VC, which refers to the ability of blood vessels to expand and contract, may also be affected during full immersion therapy. The cold water immersion can cause vasoconstriction, narrowing the blood vessels, which may decrease VC. This vasoconstriction helps to divert blood flow to essential organs.