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.

Aquatic High Intensity Interval Training for Cardiometabolic Health

“…[68][69][70][71] Recent studies have reported a more accurate self-regulated approach to prescribing intensity during aquatic resistance exercises through visual and verbal perceptual cuing systems that include a RPE scale. 72 To elicit these intensity-dependent physiological responses during aquatic HIIT, systematic manipulation of several potential modulators are recommended and may include the following: (1) changing body position; (2) segmental actions of upper and lower limbs; 73 (3) increasing speeds and surface area of the movement patterns that are executed; [73][74][75] or (4) adding equipment such as gloves, paddles, bands, or other resistive devices 74,76,77 (refer to Sidebar 1). response typically results in a 12% to 15% decrease in HR.…”

Neuromuscular Responses During Aquatic Resistance Exercise With Different Devices and Depths

“…Buoyancy force combined with the size of the floating device means that a lower velocity is reached and therefore the resulting end force is maintained. Pinto et al (27) analyzed 15 women performing stationary jogging combined with elbow flexion and extension without devices, with a drag device and with a floating device at maximum cadence, and the results showed no significant differences between the performance of the exercise with or without devices for most muscles evaluated.…”

“…All records of myoelectrical activity (in microvolts) were stored on a hard drive for later analysis. The insulation procedures have been described previously by Pinto et al (27), and this technique was performed to avoid interference because of the contact of electrodes with water, which can produce noise in the EMG signal. To acquire the surface EMG signals produced during exercise, an ME6000P8 (Mega Electronics, Ltd., Kuopio, Finland) biosignal conditioner was used.…”

Muscle Activation in Young Men During a Lower Limb Aquatic Resistance Exercise With Different Devices

“…Previous studies have shown high EMG reliability for aquatic exercises. 18,33,34 To acquire the surface EMG signals produced during exercise, an ME6000P8 (Mega Electronics, Ltd., Kuopio, Finland) biosignal conditioner was used.…”