Water exercise is a very good way to burn calories, improve your strength and flexibility, tone-up, improve your cardiovascular system, and just get more fit overall. And, the types of workouts are practically endless. Most land exercises can be modified and re-created in water.
The factors which influence individuals to participate in water exercise programs is that it help Immersing in warm water raises body temperature, causing blood vessels to dilate and increasing circulation.
It is a gentle way to exercise joints and muscles. Moreover, Water supports joints to encourage free movement, and may also act as resistance to help build muscle strength. And using a spa adds a component to the therapy massage. Jet nozzles release warm water and air, massaging your body and helping you relax tight muscles. It also helps soothing warmth and buoyancy of warm water make it a safe, ideal environment for relieving pain and stiffness. (Willen, 2001).
According to a study by physiotherapists, a comparison of a group of 70 year olds and older who regularly undertook water exercises in a heated pool, with a similar group who did not undertake any regular exercises, showed that the water exercise group performed ' significantly better' on four functional tests of flexibility, mobility and ability to maintain postural control (balance).
Given that one of the major causes of illness and injury in older people are falls, the researchers believe that water exercise has the potential to "prevent or perhaps reverse the effects of ageing on balance" and hence improve the quality of life of older people.
The study points out that the properties of water ideally meet the needs of older people who require physical activity. Because of its buoyancy water exercise suits people who can't participate in land based exercise programs because of existing balance.....
