Physiological comparisons between aquatic resistance training protocols with and without equipment

The purpose of the present study was to compare the physiological responses of oxygen uptake (VO(2)) and energy expenditure (EE) in two different aquatic resistance training protocols performed with three sets of 20 seconds (3 × 20) and six sets of 10 seconds (6 × 10) and with and without Speedo Resistance Equipment. Ten young healthy women volunteers, familiar with exercises in an aquatic environment, participated in this study. The four separate protocols were randomly selected and performed at a 48-hour interval by the same instructor. The total time of the 3 × 20 protocol was 34 minutes and that of the 6 × 10 protocol was 43 minutes, and all exercises were performed at maximal speed and amplitude. Although the protocols had different total times, they included one minute of stimulus per muscle group and the same time intervals. EE(gross) and EE(net) values were higher in the 6 × 10 protocol than in the 3 × 20 one. The variables VO(2) and EE(min) did not present significant difference between the protocols. VO(2), EE(gross), EE(net) and EE(min) values were higher when the equipment was used (W situation) than when it was not (WO situation). In the postexercise analysis, the W situation also showed higher VO(2) and EE(gross) values than the WO situation. Therefore, this study suggests the use of Speedo Resistance Equipment to increase VO(2) and EE, and it also suggests lengthier aquatic resistance training to obtain greater EE values per session.