Water Aerobics Views

General Goods

In addition to the standard benefits of any exercise, the use of water in water aerobics supports the body and reduces the risk of muscle or joint injury. The mitigation of gravity by flotation places less stress on the joints when stretching, and can allow a greater range of motion. The mitigation of gravity makes water aerobics safe for individuals able to keep their heads out of water, including the elderly.[1] Exercise in water can also prevent overheating through continuous cooling of the body. Most classes last for 45-55 minutes.[2] Another benefit is that you do not even have to be a strong swimmer to participate in water aerobics.[3]

Aqua aerobics requires access to a swimming pool via facilities, and in addition to any membership fees to access facilities, classes may cost extra. Although aquatic exercise greatly reduces the risk of injury, not as many calories are burned as would be in some other activities.[4] Though aquatic activities in general expend more energy than many land-based activities performed at the same pace due to the increased resistance of water, the speed with which movements can be performed is greatly reduced.[2]

The light aerobic exercise didnm’t have any effect on the duration or type of delivery the women experienced. But there were dramatic differences in terms of requests for pain relief. Among women who didnm’t exercise, two out of three women requested epidural pain relief during labor. But among the water aerobics group, only 27 percent of women asked for pain drugs.

Although the study size was small, the researchers noted that the water aerobics course may have helped better prepare women both emotionally and physically for the rigors of labor. The biggest problem was that about one-third of the women in the exercise group had to give up the classes at some point in the study because of time constraints, child-care conflicts and other issues that made it difficult to attend the class.