Water-Based Concurrent Training Improves Peak Oxygen Uptake, Rate of Force Development, Jump Height, and Neuromuscular Economy in Young Women

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of different intrasession exercise sequences on the cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular adaptations induced by water-based concurrent training in young subjects. Twenty-six healthy young women (25.1 ± 2.9 years) were placed into 2 water-based concurrent training groups: resistance before (RA, n = 13) or after (AR, n = 13) aerobic training. Subjects trained resistance and aerobic training during 12 weeks, 2 times per week performing both exercise types in the same training session. Peak oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak), rate of force development (RFD) obtained during an isometric peak torque knee extension protocol, jump height, and neuromuscular economy (normalized electromyography at 80% of pretraining knee extension isometric peak torque) in young women were determined. After training, there was a significant increase (p < 0.001) in both RA and AR in the V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak, with no differences between groups (7 vs. 5%). The maximal isometric knee extension RFD showed significant increases (p = 0.003) after training (RA: 19 vs. AR: 30%), and both groups presented similar gains. In addition, the countermovement jump height also increased (p = 0.034) after training (RA: 5% vs. AR: 6%), with no difference between groups. After training, there were significant improvements on vastus lateralis (p < 0.001) (RA: -13% vs. AR: -20%) and rectus femoris (p = 0.025) (RA: -17% vs. AR: -7%) neuromuscular economy, with no difference between groups. In conclusion, 12 weeks of water-based concurrent training improved the peak oxygen uptake, RFD, jump height, and neuromuscular economy in young women independent from the intrasession exercise sequence.

Effects of Aquatic Exercise on Muscle Strength in Young and Elderly Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

“…Graef et al (17) found that a program of aquatic exercises with resistance control has the most effective gains in 1RM of adduction/abduction horizontal shoulders. Although they found significant gains in both orders of performing aerobic exercises and resistance (AR vs. RA) within the same exercise session, Pinto et al (27–29) believe that performing strength exercises before aerobic exercises seems to be more effective in the gains of muscle strength compared with the reverse order. Katsura et al (21) found similar responses of strength after performing training with and without resistive devices.…”

“…Indeed, water has been widely used as a way to increase the resistance to a movement, and strategies such as the use of devices to increase the contact area or buoyancy may require a greater production of strength, generating adjustments in the neuromuscular system. This review found 11 studies that did not use resistance devices (7,10,20,25,(27)(28)(29)(35)(36)(37)40). Of these, only 2 (7,40) found no significant improvements in the parameters of strength, indicating that the use of equipment may not be an indispensable condition for improvement in the neuromuscular system.…”

“…Eleven studies (4,10,17,20,21,(27)(28)(29)(35)(36)(37) compared the effects of 2 different models of training in an aquatic environment. Graef et al (17) found that a program of aquatic exercises with resistance control has the most effective gains in 1RM of adduction/abduction horizontal shoulders.…”

“…The isometric PT of knee unilateral extension was evaluated in 6 studies (6,7,27,29,32,41). The studies by Pinto et al (29) and Pinto et al (27,28) had 2 groups of aquatic exercises that differed only by the order of execution of aerobic and resistance exercises (AR vs. RA), whereas only the results of the RA group were analyzed. A separate meta-analysis with each study group of Pinto et al (27)(28)(29) showed no difference in using one or the other group (data not shown).…”

A new somatic environment: Quasi-quantitative study reveals water training as an effective method to increase dancer kinesthetic awareness

“…This article explores the idea that somatic practice encompasses more environments than those aforementioned and specifically addresses the use of water as a new somatic environment. The physical benefits of water exercise to sustain and promote health, wellbeing and conditioning are well known (Buttelli, 2015;Goldstein, 2016;Pinto et al, 2015). Sebastian Kneipp's My Water Cure, published in 1893, examined the healing properties of water therapy and increased its presence in naturopathy (Locher & Pforr, 2007).…”