Maximal metabolic responses of deep and shallow water running in trained runners

The purpose of this study was to compare the maximal metabolic responses of competitive runners during treadmill running (TMR), deep water running (DWR), and shallow water running (SWR). Seven male and two female members of the Wheaton College varsity cross country team served as subjects. Maximal measures included oxygen consumption (VO2max), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HRmax), and lactic acid (HLA). Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed treadmill running to elicit higher VO2max and HRmax than both water tests (P less than 0.05). VO2max was also greater for SWR than for DWR (P less than 0.05). VO2max values for SWR and DWR were 90.3% and 73.5% of TMR, respectively. HRmax for SWR and DWR were 88.6% and 86% of TMR, respectively. RER and HLA did not differ among tests. These data suggest that shallow water running is capable of eliciting metabolic responses comparable to treadmill running. Shallow water running elicits higher metabolic responses than deep water running.