Water-based exercises in postmenopausal women: Vertical ground reaction force and oxygen uptake responses.

The purpose of the present study was to analyse vertical ground reaction force (Fz) and oxygen uptake (VO2) responses in six different water-based exercises performed at different cadences by postmenopausal women. Twelve postmenopausal women (57.3 ± 2.6 years, 158.1 ± 6.9 cm, 69.1 ± 10.9 kg) voluntarily took part in the study. Participants completed six sessions corresponding to maximal tests for each water-based exercise. Then, two sessions were performed for the experimental protocols, which comprised the performance of three exercises at three cadences (80, 100 and 120 b min-1), with Fz and VO2 measurements. Peak (Fzpeak) and impulse of Fz were determined. In addition, VO2 percentages relative to maximal VO2 (VO2max) values obtained in each maximal test were expressed as %VO2max. Data were analysed using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures (α = 0.05). As results, significant differences were found in Fzpeak and impulse between the water-based exercises, with similar VO2 and %VO2max values between them for each cadence. In addition, with the increasing cadence, Fzpeak (0.20-0.80 BW), VO2 (5.3-9.4 ml kg-1 min-1) and %VO2max (32.1-57.6%) values increased, while impulse (0.20-0.07 N.s/BW) values were reduced. Therefore, for a same physiological intensity, postmenopausal women experience different Fz loads during different water-based exercises.

Active Female Maximal and Anaerobic Threshold Cardiorespiratory Responses to Six Different Water Aerobics Exercises.

PURPOSE: Maximal tests conducted on land are not suitable for the prescription of aquatic exercises, which makes it difficult to optimize the intensity of water aerobics classes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the maximal and anaerobic threshold cardiorespiratory responses to 6 water aerobics exercises. Volunteers performed 3 of the exercises in the sagittal plane and 3 in the frontal plane. METHOD: Twelve active female volunteers (aged 24 ± 2 years) performed 6 maximal progressive test sessions. Throughout the exercise tests, we measured heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2). We randomized all sessions with a minimum interval of 48 hr between each session. For statistical analysis, we used repeated-measures 1-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Regarding the maximal responses, for the peak VO2, abductor hop and jumping jacks (JJ) showed significantly lower values than frontal kick and cross-country skiing (CCS; p < .001; partial η(2) = .509), while for the peak HR, JJ showed statistically significantly lower responses compared with stationary running and CCS (p < .001; partial η(2) = .401). At anaerobic threshold intensity expressed as the percentage of the maximum values, no statistically significant differences were found among exercises. CONCLUSION: Cardiorespiratory responses are directly associated with the muscle mass involved in the exercise. Thus, it is worth emphasizing the importance of performing a maximal test that is specific to the analyzed exercise so the prescription of the intensity can be safer and valid.

Neuromuscular adaptations to water-based concurrent training in postmenopausal women: effects of intrasession exercise sequence.

This study investigated the effects of different exercise sequences on the neuromuscular adaptations induced by water-based concurrent training in postmenopausal women. Twenty-one healthy postmenopausal women (57.14 ± 2.43 years) were randomly placed into two water-based concurrent training groups: resistance training prior to (RA, n = 10) or after (AR, n = 11) aerobic training. Subjects performed resistance and aerobic training twice a week over 12 weeks, performing both exercise types in the same training session. Upper (elbow flexors) and lower-body (knee extensors) one-repetition maximal test (1RM) and peak torque (PT) (knee extensors) were evaluated. The muscle thickness (MT) of upper (biceps brachii) and lower-body (vastus lateralis) was determined by ultrasonography. Moreover, the maximal and submaximal (neuromuscular economy) electromyographic activity (EMG) of lower-body (vastus lateralis and rectus femoris) was measured. Both RA and AR groups increased the upper- and lower-body 1RM and PT, while the lower-body 1RM increases observed in the RA was greater than AR (34.62 ± 13.51 vs. 14.16 ± 13.68 %). RA and AR showed similar MT increases in upper- and lower-body muscles evaluated. In addition, significant improvements in the maximal and submaximal EMG of lower-body muscles in both RA and AR were found, with no differences between groups. Both exercise sequences in water-based concurrent training presented relevant improvements to promote health and physical fitness in postmenopausal women. However, the exercise sequence resistance-aerobic optimizes the strength gains in lower limbs.

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

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.

Rating of Perceived Exertion and Physiological Responses in Water-Based Exercise.

The aim of the present study was to relate the overall rating of perceived exertion (RPE-overall) with cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular variables during stationary running with the elbow flexion/extension performed with water-floating equipment. The sample consisted of eleven women that performed the water-based exercise at submaximal cadences. The heart rate, oxygen uptake, ventilation, and electromyographic signal (EMG) from biceps brachii (%EMG BB), triceps brachii (%EMG TB), biceps femoris (%EMG BF) and rectus femoris (%EMG RF) muscles were measured during the exercise, and the overall RPE was measured immediately following its completion. The Pearson product-moment linear correlation was used to investigate associations between the variables analyzed in the present study. Significant relationships were observed between the RPE-overall and all the cardiorespiratory variables, with the r values ranging from 0.60 to 0.70 (p<0.05). In addition, the RPE-overall showed a significant (p<0.05) relationship with %EMG BB (r=0.55) and %EMG BF (r=0.50). These results suggest an association between the RPE-overall with all cardiorespiratory and two neuromuscular variables during the execution of a water-based aerobic exercise using water-floating equipment.

Respostas cardiorrespiratórias de seis exercícios de hidroginástica realizados por mulheres pós-menopáusicas / Cardiorespiratory responses to six water-based exercises in postmenopausal women

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as respostas cardiorrespiratórias de seis exercícios de hidroginástica realizados por mulheres pós-menopáusicas. Onze mulheres pós-menopáusicas (57,3 ± 2,6 anos) realizaram uma sessão de teste máximo para cada um dos seis exercícios avaliados: chute frontal (CHU), corrida estacionária (CO), corrida posterior (CP), deslize frontal (DF), elevação posterior (EP) e saltito grupado (SAP). O protocolo iniciava em uma cadência de 85 bpm durante 3 minutos e incrementos de 15 bpm a cada 2 minutos, até a exaustão. Foram medidas a frequência cardíaca máxima (FCmáx), no primeiro (FCLV1) e no segundo limiar ventilatório (FCLV2); consumo de oxigênio máximo (VO2máx), no primeiro (VO2LV1) e no segundo limiar ventilatório (VO2LV2); e percentual do VO2 e da FC no primeiro (%FCLV1 e %VO2LV1) e no segundo limiar ventilatório (%FCLV2 e %VO2LV2) relativos aos valores máximos. Para análise estatística foi utilizado ANOVA para medidas repetidas com teste de Bonferroni (α=0,05). De uma forma geral, os resultados demonstraram valores de VO2máx, VO2LV1, VO2LV2, %VO2LV1 e FCLV2 maiores para o exercício CO e CHU, e semelhantes entre os demais exercícios. Além disso, respostas semelhantes foram encontradas entre todos os exercícios nas variáveis de FCmáx, FCLV1, %FCLV1, %FCLV2 e %VO2LV2. Concluímos que os exercícios que apresentam grande área projetada e grande massa muscular envolvida apresentam maiores respostas cardiorrespiratórias. Além disso, para a prescrição sugere-se a realização de um teste máximo de um dos exercícios avaliados, e a partir deste determinar a FCLV2 e prescrever o treinamento com base em percentuais referentes a este ponto.

This study aimed to evaluate the cardiorespiratory responses of six different water-based exercises in postmenopausal women. Eleven postmenopausal women (57.3 ± 2.6 years) performed a maximal test session for each of the six exercises: frontal kick (FK), stationary running (SR), posterior stationary running (PR), cross country skiing (CCS), hip extension (HE) and frontal hop (FH). The protocol started at a rate of 85 bpm for 3 min with subsequent increments of 15 bpm every 2 min until exhaustion. In each test, was determined maximal heart rate (HRmax), in the first (HRVT1) and second ventilatory threshold (HRVT2); maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), in the first (VO2VT1) and second ventilatory threshold (VO2VT2); and VO2VT1, VO2VT2, HRVT1 and HRVT2 values were also expressed as a percentage to their maximal values. A repeat measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni´s post hoc test were used (α=0,05). In general, the results showed VO2max, VO2VT1, VO2VT2, HRVT2 and %VO2VT1 values were significantly higher for SR and FK, and similar among the other exercises. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between all exercises in HRmax, HRVT1, %HRVT1, %HRVT2 and %VO2VT2. We can conclude that the exercise that have larger muscle mass and larger projected area show greater cardiorespiratory responses. Moreover, we suggest performing the maximal test with

Water-based exercise and quality of life in women: the role of depressive symptoms.

Several studieshave evaluated the relation of exercise to quality of life (QoL). To our knowledge, no study has evaluated the relation of water-based exercise to depressive symptoms and QoL, or the association between improvement in QoL and depressive symptoms in healthy women. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of water-based exercise with changes in QoL. Forty-seven women performed water-based combined exercise for 12 weeks. All participants improved in the physical and psychological domains of QoL. Decreases in depressive symptoms and improvements in maximal strength and aerobic capacity were found for all participants. A regression model revealed that depressive symptoms were associated with improvements in physical and psychological domains of QoL. The results showed that moderate intensity, water-based exercise improved physical and psychological domains of QoL, depressive symptoms, aerobic capacity, and muscular strength of women. Furthermore, the improvement in physical and psychological domains of QoL appeared to be mediated by the antidepressant effects of exercise, but not by changes in aerobic capacity or muscular strength.