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Benefits of Aquatic Fitness
Home » Exercise Equipment » Aquatic Fitness » Benefits of Aquatic FitnessPosted by Your Guide on February 28, 2006 8:43 PM
Most people exercise to be more physically fit, for therapeutic reasons, to release stress in their lives, or just for the fun and enjoyment being in a workout environment with others brings to their lives. Whether you are looking for rehabilitation or for a cardiovascular workout, aquatic fitness could be a good choice.
The following are some of the reasons that exercising in the water is a good option:
• Buoyancy – Typically, in an aquatic fitness routine you will be chest deep in the water. This allows 90 percent of your body to be buoyant, leaving only 10 percent of your body needing support. As a result, exercising in the water is much less stressful on your joints and muscles. You are less likely to feel achy after an aquatic workout.
• Resistance – The resistance you get from moving around in the water is equivalent to working out with fitness machines or weights. This is due to the fact that water is thicker than air, causing a greater resistance.
• Calories – A water workout expends more energy than normal exercise routines due to the resistance of the water. Generally, a person will burn 450 to 700 calories during a one hour aquatic fitness routine.
• Results – You will see quicker results from an aquatic routine compared with the same routines performed on land due to the resistance of the water.
• Massaging effect – The pressure from the water that is felt on your body, joints, and muscles massages your body while you are working out. You should not feel tired after an aquatic routine as you would with a typical land aerobic workout.
• Water temperature – Exercising in the water rather than on land provides a more comfortable and cooler workout. The water continually cools your body as you exercise. The ideal water temperature for a fitness routine is 80 to 88 degrees. The Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program recommends a range of 84 to 88 degrees with a minimum of 83 degrees.
• Heart rate – Due to the fact that your body is supported by water during an aquatic workout, you heart rate is slightly lower. This makes aquatic fitness a relatively safe choice for the obese, pregnant women, or those suffering from heart disease.
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