by Lynda Huey
On Remaining A Water Workout Purist
Like most athletes, I used to use the water for training only when hurt and
unable to train on land. Over time, however, I grew to respect the quality of
a Waterpower Workout and often used it (instead of a land workout) simply
because I didn't want to feel the pounding of a land workout.
I now seek the comfort and friendliness of the water where two different
variables apply to training: buoyancy and resistance.
Buoyancy
Consider this the flip side of gravity's downward pull on land. Buoyancy is
the upward thrust exerted by water on a body that is totally or partially
immersed in it. Water's buoyancy supports you as you move through it in a
training program, letting you swim, run, walk, leap, stretch, and bound
without the jolts that could cause injuries if these were done on land.
Water's buoyancy acts as a cushion for your weight-bearing joints, preventing
strain and injury.
Resistance
We never consider air resistance when we train on land, but in the water,
resistance is a major factor. Any movement at any speed in any direction is
slowed by water's resistance. Three-dimensional resistance is created as your
body pushes the water out of the way. This three-dimensional resistance is
what makes water the ideal training medium_no matter what muscle group you
wish to strengthen.
Because water is, in effect, a natural weight-training machine, and is
instantly adjustable, you do not need weights and machines for a tougher
workout. In water, the harder you push and pull and kick, the more resistance
you meet from it. In fact, resistance is directly proportional to speed,
meaning if you move twice as fast, you encounter exactly twice as much force
from the water's resistance.
Although equipment manufacturers have been creating new weight-lifting types
of toys for the pool, consumers need to be aware of the basic beauty of water
exercise. They need to realize that the water creates its own beneficial
workout, without the need for weights and machines.
Above are a few rules to help you remain a water workout purist.
Lynda Huey and Mike Shapow, P.T., direct Total Aquatic Rehab, Inc., which
provides water therapy for hospitals in Los Angeles, San Diego and Miami.
