Submaximal exercise in young female subjects on land and in water with and without hand‐held weights

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the metabolic and physiologic responses to sub‐maximal exercise on land and in water with and without 0.90 kg (2.0 pounds) hand‐held weights in young women. Eight apparently healthy women (mean ± SD for age: 19.8 ± 1.6 years; height: 164.1 ± 8.4 cm; weight: 64.8 ±8.6) completed a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) and four submaximal exercise tests: (1) on land with hand‐held weights; (2) on land without hand‐held weights; (3) in neck‐depth water with hand‐held weights and (4) in neck‐depth water without hand‐held weights. Analysis of heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (Vo2), ventilation (V E ), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), blood lactate [LA‐] and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) respectively was conducted in all tests. A 2 x 2 (environment x weights) analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated there was a significantly lower HR and Vo2 subject response to water exercise than to land exercise of the same type. The addition of hand‐held weights to the exercise load in the water significantly increased the HR after only 21 min of exercise. The addition of weights in the water did not increase the resistance or “drag” in the water during arm movements, as indicated by the non‐significant metabolic change between measurements in the water with weights compared with water exercise without weights. Response in VE and [LA‐] to the two exercise conditions produced a significantly higher response on land with weights than in water. The lowest value for rating the exertion (RPE) was generated during water exercise. These data indicate that water is an effective exercise stimulus and a suitable mode of water aided activity for those who are elderly, overweight or suffer from orthopedic injury. An additional advantage to water exercise was a reduced perception of effort by the subjects compared with land exercise of the same type.