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Maximal physiological responses to deep and shallow water running.
C N Dowzer1, T Reilly, N T Cable
1Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, UK.
Ergonomics
|February 20, 1999
Summary
Treadmill running shows higher maximal physiological responses than water running. However, shallow water running offers a good training stimulus for cardiovascular fitness, potentially aiding injured athletes.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Water running is often used as a training or rehabilitation method.
- Understanding the physiological demands of water running is crucial for optimizing training protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare maximal physiological responses during treadmill running (TMR), shallow water running (SWR), and deep water running (DWR).
- To assess the potential of water running as a supplementary training method for maintaining cardiovascular fitness.
Main Methods:
- Fifteen trained male runners participated in the study.
- Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and heart rate (HR) were measured during TMR, SWR, and DWR with a buoyancy vest.
Main Results:
- Treadmill running elicited significantly higher VO2 max and HRmax compared to both SWR and DWR (p < 0.01).
- SWR and DWR achieved 83.7% and 75.3% of VO2 max, respectively.
- Peak heart rates in SWR and DWR were 94.1% and 87.2% of TMR's HRmax, respectively.
- Respiratory exchange ratio responses were similar across all three running modalities.
Conclusions:
- Water running provides an adequate training stimulus for supplementary training, particularly for maintaining cardiovascular fitness.
- Shallow water running may be an effective method for cardiovascular conditioning and warrants further investigation for injured athletes.