Water properties combine to reduce pressure to the body's joints, support movement, and increase resistance when exercising. Specifically, individuals exercising regularly in an aquatic environment may find that water offers:
Increased Joint Flexibility
Immersion in water helps to prepare connective tissue of muscles for stretching. After stretching in water, elongated tissue results in lower risk of injury and muscle soreness following exercise. Buoyancy decreases pressure to joints and assists movement so exercises are easier to execute and are less likely to be painful.
Increased Muscle Strength
Water is more dense than air, so resistance is present in water with any movement or direction taken. Depending on your speed of movement, it is possible to encounter forces of resistance many times greater than the resistance you would feel if performing the same exercise on land. This resistance factor is very important to the process that promotes the strengthening of muscle and bone.
Improved Balance and Coordination
Movement is slower, and participants will notice that they have a greater feeling of control over body motion due to the properties of water. When aquatic mobility exercises are performed while utilizing the proper body positioning necessary for correct posture, abdominal stability, coordination and gait, the body mechanics learned in the water quickly transfer to land as improved balance and coordination.
Improved Respiration and Circulation
While submerged in water, the body's blood supply to muscle tissue is improve, as well as blood pressure and heart rate. Increased Blood supply helps with the process necessary to improve muscle strength and may help to decrease any swelling that may be present.
Increased Energy Level
An increase in activity level will typically result in a corresponding increase in the body's metabolic rate, and an increased energy level may be enjoyed. As a result of performing exercises in the water, you may feel increased strength and endurance and may naturally "want to do more" whether you are on the land or in the water.
Pain Reduction
Because of buoyancy, gravity is counteracted and the pressure to the body's joints and musculature is reduced. Hydrostatic pressure supports the body at all sides, opposes swelling in the lower extremities and helps to stabilize unstable joints. These and other properties of water may help you to relax and feel more comfortable, and, if pain is present, may greatly aid in pain reduction.
A Greater Sense of Well Being
Exercising in an aquatic environment provides individuals with many advantages over exercise programs that are primarily land-based. Since there is less fear of inappropriate stresses to the body while exercising in water, it is often easier to realize results faster through a regular water exercise program. Rapid physical improvement, and a reduction of everyday stress and tension, generally give participants a greater feeling of accomplishment and sense of well-being.
