Water & Pool Exercises - Aerobic
and Strength & Rehab Water ExercisesWater/pool exercises
refers to exercise routines that are done in the water or in the pool.
Water Exercises have been proven to be effective in strength training,
aerobics and rehab goals. These exercises break the notion that pools
are only for swimming as of swimming pools. With the therapists and
trainers’ creativity, water exercises have been developed to offer
exciting options for people to exert their muscles.
Since there are
outdoor as well as indoor pools, this form of therapy or exercise
routine is more flexible to the calls of weather or climate. Hence, this
form of exercise provides individualized personal training environment,
making it more effective in developing strength and muscle endurance. Benefits
Water/pool
exercises were proven effective in improving cardiovascular health,
weight management, sleep enhancement and even prenatal health. They
offer relief to arthritis, diabetes, depression and common back pains. This
form of exercise is extremely beneficial for people who suffer from
back problems, arthritis and physical conditions such as injuries. The
water’s buoyancy reduces the impact of physical exertions to the joints,
making it effective in supporting the body at increased range of
motion.
The options for water activities are limitless. Anything that
you can do on land can also be done in the water. Just like in weight
training routines, water/pool exercises are equally effective in
promoting strength and good health. The good thing about this form of
exercise is that it is done without breaking a sweat. Basics
The
multiple functions and designs of water/pool exercises are usually
based on three periods; the warm-up, toning and stretching and the cool
down periods. So if you decide to add water/pool exercises to your
workout routine, you must follow certain guidelines. It is important to
prepare your body for the exercises or workout that lies ahead. Before
doing some serious exercise, it is always important to do proper warm
up exercises. Since this form of exercise routine is done under water,
you may also do your warm-up under water. If you are a decent swimmer,
you can do a recommended number of laps in swimming the length of the
pool. Running or walking alongside the pool, while dipped in the pool,
also makes a good form of warm-up. Just remember to avoid tiptoeing or
your calves will be killing you after the exercise.
The toning
and stretching part of this form of exercise is comprised with modified
rhythmic movements of those exercises that are done off-water. These
exercises include the leg lift, water chair, lateral raises, water
squats, wave jumps, water jogging and more of weight training exercises.
Since the body is suspended under water, water exercises apply
pressure only to the group of muscles that are flexed or worked out.
This makes water exercises a great option for physical therapy, ideal
for healing and developing the muscles that are affected by certain
injuries. Equipment
In general, a combination
of music and equipment makes water/pool exercises interesting and
appealing to endure. In exercise classes, music may be used to
synchronize movements. For various exercises, tools such as kick
boards, dumbbells or weights are used in doing the routines of
resistance training. Just like off-pool exercises, off-pool exercise
equipment is usually modified to complement various pool exercises. Even
special shoes may be worn to help plant the feet on the floor. With
the proper equipment, proper posture or body positions will be
maintained, enabling the exercise to target and flex the intended group
of muscles. |
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