Cardiorespiratory and Neuromuscular Responses during Water Aerobics Exercise Performed with and without Equipment

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular responses to water aerobics exercise performed with and without equipment. 15 women performed stationary jogging combined with elbow flexion/extension without equipment, with water-drag forces equipment and with water-floating equipment, at 2 submaximal cadences and at maximal cadence. Heart rate, oxygen uptake and electromyographic signal from biceps brachii, triceps brachii, biceps femoris and rectus femoris were collected during the exercise. The heart rate and oxygen uptake showed significantly higher values during the execution of the water aerobics exercise with either equipment compared to the execution without equipment. In addition, significant difference was found between submaximal cadences. For neuromuscular responses, no significant differences were found between the submaximal cadences for all muscles analyzed; however, significant differences were found between these submaximal cadences and the maximal cadence. Similarly, the results showed no significant differences between the execution of the exercise with or without equipment, except in the muscle activation of triceps brachii and biceps femoris, which was higher when using water-floating and water-drag forces equipment, respectively. In conclusion, the water aerobics exercise presented higher cardiorespiratory responses with equipment and also increased the cadence of execution. Nevertheless, neuromuscular responses were higher only at maximal cadence.

Key words

oxygen uptake - heart rate - muscle activation - water-based exercise - equipment

• References

• 1 Alexander R. Mechanics and energetics of animal locomotion. In: Alexander R, Goldspink G. (eds.) Swimming. London: Chapman & Hall; 1977: 222-248
• 2 Alberton CL, Olkoski MM, Becker ME, Pinto SS, Kruel LFM. Cardiorespiratory responses of post-menopause women to different hydrogymnastic exercises. Int J Aquatic Res Educ 2007; 1: 363-372
• 3 Alberton CL, Silva EM, Cadore EL, Coertjens M, Beyer PO, Marocco LF, Kruel LFM. Electromyographic responses induced by superficial electrodes isolation and by immersion. Rev Port Cienc Desp 2008; 8: 330-336 [In Portuguese]
• 4 Alberton CL, Tartaruga MP, Pinto SS, Cadore EL, Silva EM, Kruel LFM. Cardiorespiratory responses to stationary running at different cadences in water and on land. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2009; 49: 142-151
• 5 Alberton CL, Cadore EL, Pinto SS, Tartaruga MP, Silva EM, Kruel LFM. Cardiorespiratory, neuromuscular and kinematic responses to stationary running performed in water and on dry land. Eur J Appl Physiol 2010;
• 6 Barbosa TM, Garrido MF, Bragada J. Physiological adaptations to head-out aquatic exercises with different levels of body immersion. J Strength Cond Res 2007; 21: 1255-1259
• 7 Barbosa TM, Marinho DA, Reis VM, Silva AJ, Bragada JA. Physiological assessment of head-out aquatic exercises in healthy subjects: a qualitative review. J Sports Sci Med 2009; 8: 179-189
• 8 Barela AMF, Stolf SF, Duarte M. Biomechanical characteristics of adults walking in shallow water and on land. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2006; 16: 250-256
• 9 Benelli P, Ditroilo M, De Vito G. Physiological responses to fitness activities: A comparison between land-based and water aerobics exercise. J Strength Cond Res 2004; 18: 719-722
• 10 Bocalini DS, Serra AJ, Murad N, Levy RF. Water- versus land-based exercise effects on physical fitness in older women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2008; 8: 265-271
• 11 Carvalho RGS, Amorim CF, Perácio LHR, Coelho HF, Vieira AC, Karl Menzel HJ, Szmuchrowski LA. Analysis of various conditions in order to measure electromyography of isometric contractions in water and on air. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2010;
• 12 Cassady SL, Nielsen DH. Cardiorespiratory responses of healthy subjects to calisthenics performed on land versus in water. Phys Ther 1992; 75: 532-538
• 13 Cooke CB. Metabolic rate and energy balance. In: Eston R, Reilly T. (eds.) Kinanthropometry and Exercise Physiology Laboratory Manual. London: E & FN Spon; 1996: 175-195
• 14 Colado JC, Tella V, Triplett NT. A method for monitoring intensity during aquatic resistance exercises. J Strength Cond Res 2008; 22: 2045-2049
• 15 Colado JC, Tella V, Triplett NT, González LM. Effects of short-term aquatic resistance program on strength and body composition in fit young men. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 549-559
• 16 Colado JC, Triplett NT, Tella V, Saucedo P, Abellán J. Effects of aquatic resistance training on health and fitness in postmenopausal women. Eur J Appl Physiol 2009; 106: 113-122
• 17 Colado JC, Triplett NT. Monitoring the intensity of aquatic resistance exercises with devices that increase the drag force: an update. Strength Cond J 2009; 31: 94-100
• 18 Costa G, Afonso S, Bragada JA, Reis VM, Barbosa TM. Comparison of acute physiological adaptations between three variants of a basic head-out water exercise. Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum 2008; 10: 323-329 [In Portuguese]
• 19 D’Acquisto L, D’Acquisto D, Renne D. Metabolic and cardiovascular responses in older women during shallow-water exercise. J Strength Cond Res 2001; 15: 12-19
• 20 DeLuca CJ. The use of surface electromyography in biomechanics. J Appl Biomec 1997; 13: 135-163
• 21 Eckerson J, Anderson T. Physiological response to water aerobics. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 1992; 32: 255-261
• 22 Graef FI, Pinto RS, Alberton CL, De Lima WC, Kruel LFM. The effects of resistance training performed in water on muscle strength in the elderly. J Strength Cond Res 2010; 24: 3150-3156
• 23 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Update – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 819-821
• 24 Harrisson RA, Hillman M, Bulstrode S. Loading of the lower limb when walking partially immersed: Implications for clinical practice. Physiotherapy 1992; 78: 164-166
• 25 Heyward VH, Stolarczyc LM. Applied body composition. Human Kinetics, Champaign. 1996
• 26 Howley ET, Basset Jr DR, Welch HG. Criteria for maximal oxygen uptake: review and commentary. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1995; 27: 1292-1301
• 27 Jackson AS, Pollock ML, Ward A. Generalized equations for predicting body density of women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1980; 12: 175-182
• 28 Knutson LM, Soderberg GL, Ballantyne BT, Clarke WR. A study of various normalization procedures for within day electromyographic data. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 1994; 4: 47-59
• 29 Law LAF, Smidt GL. Underwater forces produced by the hydro-tone bell. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1996; 23: 267-271
• 30 Pinto SS, Alberton CL, Becker ME, Olkoski MM, Kruel LFM. Cardiorespiratory responses induced by hydrogymanstics exercises performed with and without the use of resistive equipment. Rev Port Cienc Desp 2006; 6: 336-341 [In Portuguese]
• 31 Pinto SS, Alberton CL, Figueiredo PAP, Tiggemann CL, Kruel LFM. Heart rate, oxygen consumption and rating of perceived exertion responses in a water aerobic exercise performed by women at different situations with and without the aquafins apparatus. Rev Bras Med Esporte 2008; 14: 357-361 [In Portuguese]
• 32 Pinto SS, Liedtke GV, Alberton CL, Silva EM, Cadore EL, Kruel LFM. Electromyographic signal and force comparisons during maximal voluntary isometric contraction in water and on dry land. Eur J Appl Physiol 2010; 110: 1075-1082
• 33 Pöyhönen T, Kyrolainen H, Keskinen KL, Hautala A, Savolainen J, Mälkiä E. Neuromuscular function during therapeutic knee exercise under water and on dry land. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001; 82: 1446-1452
• 34 Pöyhönen T, Kyrolainen H, Keskinen KL, Hautala A, Savolainen J, Mälkiä E. Electromyographic and kinematic analysis of therapeutic knee exercises under water. Clin Biomech 2001; 16: 496-504
• 35 Pöyhönen T, Sipilä S, Keskinen KL, Hautala A, Savolainen J, Mälkiä E. Effects of aquatic resistance training on neuromuscular performance in healthy women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34: 2103-2109
• 36 Rafaelli C, Lanza M, Zanolla L, Zamparo P. Exercise intensity of head-out water-based activities (water fitness). Eur J Appl Physiol 2010; 109: 829-838
• 37 Rainoldi A, Cescon C, Bottin A, Casale R, Caruso I. Surface EMG alterations induced by underwater recording. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2004; 14: 325-331
• 38 Sato D, Kaneda K, Wakabayashi H, Nomura T. Comparison of 2-year effects of once and twice weekly water exercise on activities of daily living ability of community dwelling frail elderly. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2009; 49: 123-128
• 39 Takeshima N, Rogers ME, Watanabe WF, Brechue WF, Okada A, Yamada T, Islam MM, Hayano J. Water-based exercise improves health-related aspects of fitness in older women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 33: 544-551
• 40 Taunton JE, Rhodes EC, Wolski LA, Donelly M, Warren J, Elliot J, McFarlane L, Leslie J, Mitchell J, Lauridsen B. Effect of land-based and water-based fitness programs on the cardiovascular fitness, strength and flexibility of woman aged 65–75 years. Gerontology 1996; 42: 204-210
• 41 Triplett NT, Colado JC, Benavent J, Alakhdar Y, Madera J, Gonzalez LM, Tella V. Concentric and impact forces of single-leg jumps in an aquatic environment versus on land. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 1790-1796
• 42 Tsourlou T, Benik A, Dipla K, Zafeiridis A, Kellis S. The effects of a twenty-four-week aquatic training program on muscular strength performance in healthy elderly women. J Strength Cond Res 2006; 20: 811-818