Water exercise is a great way to stay active, regardless of your current activity level, age and body shape. It is low impact and thus easy on the joints, supportive of being in an upright position, and decreases the concerns of overheating. Moving in the water could be for the purpose of increasing resistance and can be made to be challenging for more advanced exercisers. Movement in the water can make use of buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, viscosity and cooling properties and can be used to help a body be less weight bearing and is useful for those seeking rehabilitation from surgery or injury. It is also an option for special populations such as pregnant women, those who are very overweight, have movement restrictions or disorders, or have been sedentary. The amount of benefit provided by buoyancy for exercise depends on the depth of the water. In the situation of recovery this could mean changing where you are positioned in the water during the healing process. Hydrostatic pressure – the pressure exerted by fluid to an object can provide benefits for persons with swelling due to injury, edema from pregnancy, or cardiac concerns. Any edema or swelling of a joint is decreased as the pressure forces fluid inside the body to increase movement. The viscosity of the water molecules provide resistance in every direction. Your body must exert muscular force much greater to push through the water than through the air. There are other different variables to consider as well, for those who have certain movement disorders, it is recommended to exercise in warmer water. If you have never tried water exercise before, consider the benefits of improved cardiac health, improved body composition, reduced stress through exercise, (and also if you are concerned about an injury, joint problems, loss of balance, etc.) improved musculoskeletal fitness. As with any fitness plan talk to your healthcare provider before getting started. I can offer guidelines, resources, and recommended programs.
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