Liquid Resistance

Liquid Resistance

Aquatic exercise is one of the most effective ways to add resistance training to your program without compromising your joints. It is especially effective for obese people,pregnant women, arthritis sufferers, and anyone getting back to a workout routine after a back or knee injury. Water all but eliminates the effects of gravity on the body and cushions weight-bearing joints, making aqua exercises the lowest of low-impact workouts. At the same time, water provides resistance to force, which makes it an effective strength-training aid. Hop into the pool for resistance training that won’t stress your joints Fins add resistance to an aquatic workout.You can join a fitness class or buy special aquatic exercise equipment such as buoyancy devices that suspend your body with your shoulders, neck, and head above water. Other products designed for water exercises include webbed gloves, aquajogging belts, underwater runners, and paddlelike dumbbells that use an oversize surface area rather than weight to increase resistance. You also can increase your workload with a minimal investment. Commandeer a child’s kickboard and push or pull it underwater to enhance arm, shoulder, and back muscles. Here are some aquatic exercise tips from the manufacturer of AquaJogger (a buoyancy belt), AquaJogger Webbed Pro Gloves, DeltaBells (paddle-shaped dumbbells that use surface area rather than weight to increase resistance), and AquaRunners (underwater exercise footwear):
? Consciously work with resistance by finding the path of most resistance.
? Keep all moves below the water line.
? To make moves easier, bend the limbs and move more slowly.
? To increase resistance, straighten the limbs and increase speed.
? Push and pull the water to work forces equally in both directions to achieve balanced muscularity.
? Avoid being a “bobber” (a person who bounces up and down in the water), and try to keep your torso calm.
? Avoid using buoyancy-assisted moves.
? Because you are working with resistance, be sure to pay attention to any injuries. If a particular movement causes pain, eliminate it from your routine.