Potential benefits of potassium deposition with periodic fluid redistribution using periodic head down tilt during diminished muscular activity.

OBJECTIVE Fluid redistribution (FR) is an important cornerstone in treating diseases. Findings of FR with periodic head down tilt (PHDT) had sparked renewed interest in treating electrolyte disturbances. Therefore this study aimed to determine the potential benefits of potassium (K+) deposition with periodic FR by PHDT during diminished muscular activity (hypokinesia; HK). METHODS Studies were conducted on 40-male volunteers. They were equally divided into 4-groups: active control subjects (ACS), hypokinetic subjects (HKS), periodic fluid redistribution control subjects (PFRCS) and periodic fluid redistribution hypokinetic subjects (PFRHS). RESULTS Muscle K+ increased (p < 0.05) and plasma K+ level and K+ losses decreased (p < 0.05) in the PFRHS group compared to the HKS group. By contrast in the HKS group muscle K+ reduced (p < 0.05) and plasma K+ level and K+ losses increased (p < 0.05) compared to pre-experimental period levels and the values of the other groups. In the PFRCS group the muscle K+, plasma K+ concentration and K+ losses were affected much less than in the PFRHS group. CONCLUSION The current study shows that periodic-applied fluid volume addition into the body's regional areas by PHDT increases muscle K+ content and decrease K+ losses suggesting potential benefits of K+ deposition during diminished muscular activity.