Physiological Effects of an Acute Bout of Shallow Water Sprinting

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare heart rate, blood lactate, flexibility, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in males sprinting on land and in shallow water. Twenty recreationally active males participated in sprinting on land and in shallow water. Ten 9.1m sprints were performed during each condition. Heart rate, blood lactate, and range of motion were measured before and after each condition. RPE was evaluated immediately after exercise. DOMS was assessed at 24 h and 48 h postexercise. The results show that heart rate and range of motion increase similarly in both conditions. Blood lactate levels and RPE increase the most during sprinting in the water. Sprinting in shallow water elicits similar heart rate responses and range of motion following sprinting on land and in water. Higher lactate and RPE levels when sprinting in water suggest that the metabolic demands of shallow water sprinting are different than land sprinting of the same distance. Aquatic exercise can be used for rehabilitation or injury prevention. It can even be used as a supplemental training modality for athletes. When individuals are immersed in water, body weight is unloaded (Piotrowska-Calka & KarbownikKopacz, 2007). As a result, weight bearing impact is reduced and could therefore decrease the risk of injury and allow for physical activity to be performed during injury rehabilitation. In addition, the density of water is approximately 800 times higher than the density of air and creates a three-dimensional resistance that the individual must overcome during aquatic exercise (Piotrowska-Calka & KarbownikKopacz, 2007). To accomplish exercise in the water, antagonist muscle groups will be recruited in addition to the agonists. Walking and running are common aerobic exercise modalities and performing these exercises in water reduces loading as a result of the buoyancy effect. Deep water running eliminates about 90% of one’s body weight and it has been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness (Piotrowska-Calka, 2010). Shallow water walking and running reduces weight bearing activity by 70–75% of one’s body weight but allows contact forces to occur (Haupenthal, Rushcel, Hubert, de Brito Fontana, & Roesler, 2010). It has been shown that walking in water yields higher VO2, heart