Alberton, C.L. (2015) - VGRF Responses To Different Head-Out Aquatic Exercises Perormed in Water and On Dry Land.
Alberton, C.L. (2015) - VGRF Responses To Different Head-Out Aquatic Exercises Perormed in Water and On Dry Land.
Alberton, C.L. (2015) - VGRF Responses To Different Head-Out Aquatic Exercises Perormed in Water and On Dry Land.
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Cristine Lima Alberton
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Cristine Lima Alberton , Paula Finatto , Stephanie Santana Pinto , Amanda Haberland
b
Antunes , Eduardo Lusa Cadore , Marcus Peikriszwili Tartaruga & Luiz Fernando Martins
b
Kruel
a
Physical Education School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
To cite this article: Cristine Lima Alberton, Paula Finatto, Stephanie Santana Pinto, Amanda Haberland Antunes,
Eduardo Lusa Cadore, Marcus Peikriszwili Tartaruga & Luiz Fernando Martins Kruel (2014): Vertical ground reaction force
responses to different head-out aquatic exercises performed in water and on dry land, Journal of Sports Sciences, DOI:
10.1080/02640414.2014.964748
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2014.964748
Abstract
The purpose was to analyse the vertical ground reaction forces (Fz) of head-out aquatic exercises [stationary running (SR),
frontal kick (FK), cross-country skiing (CCS), jumping jacks (JJ), adductor hop (ADH) and abductor hop (ABH)] at two
cadences in both aquatic and dry land environments. Twelve young women completed two sessions in each environment,
each consisting of three exercises performed at two cadences (rst and second ventilatory thresholds C1 and C2,
respectively). Two-way and three-way repeated measures analysis of variance were used to the statistical analysis. The
results showed that the peak Fz and impulse were signicantly lower in the aquatic environment, resulting in values from
28.2% to 58.5% and 60.4% to 72.8% from those obtained on dry land, respectively. In the aquatic environment, the peak Fz
was lower and the impulse was higher at the C1 than at the C2. Furthermore, it was observed that SR and FK (0.91.1 BW)
elicited a signicantly higher peak Fz values compared to the ADH and JJ exercises (0.50.8 BW). It can be concluded that
the aquatic environment reduces the Fz during head-out aquatic exercises. It should be noted that its magnitude is also
dependent on the intensity and the identity of the exercise performed.
Keywords: impact, impulse, aquatic exercises, ventilatory thresholds
1. Introduction
Head-out aquatic exercises are commonly used for
rehabilitation and physical tness. Individuals with
osteoarticular diseases, the elderly and the obese
may benet from exercising in water (Bento,
Pereira, Ugrinowitsch, & Rodacki, 2012; Elbar
et al., 2013; Jones, Meredith-Jones, & Legge, 2009;
Rica et al., 2013; Silva et al., 2008; Takeshima et al.,
2002) due to the different physiological and biomechanical characteristics of these exercises compared
to land-based exercises. Water immersion exposes
the body to hydrostatic pressure, which is the main
factor contributing to the physiological alterations
present during the aquatic exercises (Watenpaugh,
Pump, Bie, & Norsk, 2000). Furthermore, buoyant
forces result in a reduction of the participants apparent weights (approximately 70% at the xiphoid process depth), which implies a lower resultant force
acting on the structures of the body (Alberton,
Tartaruga, et al., 2013; Harrison, Hillman, &
Bulstrode, 1992), as well as different ground reaction forces present during head-out aquatic
exercises.
Analyses of the ground reaction forces have been
investigated over the last two decades mainly focusing on rehabilitation settings and assessing specially
water walking (Barela & Duarte, 2008; Barela, Stolf,
& Duarte, 2006; Harrison et al., 1992; Haupenthal,
Brito-Fontana, Ruschel, Santos, & Roesler, 2013;
Haupenthal, Ruschel, Hubert, Brito Fontana, &
Roesler, 2010; Miyoshi, Shirota, Yamamoto,
Nakazawa, & Akai, 2004; Nakazawa, Yano, &
Miyashita, 1994; Roesler, Haupenthal, Schtz, &
Souza, 2006). Harrison and Bulstrode (1987), the
pioneers in this research area, investigated the percentual reduction in apparent weight during water
walking in different depths compared to dry land.
Afterwards, other studies were conducted to analyse
the vertical, anteroposterior and mediolateral components of the ground reaction force during shallow
Correspondence: Cristine Lima Alberton, Physical Education School, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Lus de Cames, 625, Pelotas 96055630, Brazil.
E-mail: tinialberton@yahoo.com.br
2014 Taylor & Francis
C. L. Alberton et al.
water walking, paying special attention to the comparisons between different immersion depths, velocities of motion and load conditions (Haupenthal
et al., 2013, 2010; Miyoshi, Nakazawa, Tanizaki,
Sato, & Akai, 2006; Miyoshi et al., 2004; Roesler
et al., 2006). Recently, other types of aquatic exercise have received attention, such as backwards water
walking (Carneiro et al., 2012), squat jump (Colado
et al., 2010; Triplett et al., 2009) and specic aerobic head-out aquatic exercises (stationary running,
frontal kick and cross-country skiing) (Alberton,
Tartaruga, et al., 2013; Brito-Fontana et al., 2012).
In contrast to the wide knowledge about vertical
ground reaction force (Fz) pattern during water
walking, only two studies were conceived with the
purpose of describing these biomechanical patterns
during different head-out aquatic exercises
(Alberton, Tartaruga, et al., 2013; Brito-Fontana
et al., 2012). Brito-Fontana et al. (2012) analysed
the Fz during the stationary running performed at
two immersion depths and at three submaximal
cadences. Lower Fz values were observed for the
chest compared to the hip depth. In addition, signicant differences were observed in the lower
cadence compared to the two higher cadences.
Alberton, Tartaruga, et al. (2013) compared the Fz
between three exercises (stationary running, frontal
kick and cross-country skiing) performed at three
cadences in the aquatic environment. Lower Fz
values were found for the lower cadence compared
to the two higher intensities. Moreover, this analysis
of different exercises revealed that cross-country skiing resulted in lower Fz compared to the other exercises. In the above-mentioned studies, three specic
head-out aquatic exercises were investigated, all of
which were performed in the sagittal plane with
similar characteristics.
Aerobic head-out aquatic exercise session comprises a large number of exercises, such as walking,
running, kicking, jumping, rocking and scissors
(Sanders, 2000), performed mainly in the sagittal
and frontal planes of movement. However, the literature concerning biomechanical parameters in
head-out aquatic exercises focuses mainly on that
performed in the sagittal plane, such as water walking, stationary running, frontal kick and cross-country skiing. It might be due to the fact that these
exercises elicit greater muscle groups (e.g. exor
and extensors hip and knee) in contrast to the exercises performed in the frontal plane (e.g. adductor
and abductor hip), and consequently, greater oxygen
uptake and heart hate during their performance
(Alberton, Olkoski, Becker, Pinto, & Kruel, 2007;
Alberton, Antunes, et al., 2013; Raffaelli, Lanza,
Zanolla, & Zamparo, 2010). In addition, some studies have assessed physiological parameters during
aquatic exercises performed in more than one plane
Figure 1. Initial and nal phase of the water aerobic exercises: (A) stationary running, (B) frontal kick, (C) cross-country skiing, (D)
jumping jacks, (E) adductor hop and (F) abductor hop.
C. L. Alberton et al.
Exercise
Stationary running
Frontal kick
Cross-country skiing
Jumping jacks
Adductor hop
Abductor hop
VT1
VT2
Mean s
Mean s
104.2
98.3
97.5
91.7
87.5
89.2
11.6
7.2
6.2
8.3
6.2
7.9
135.0
122.5
125.8
125.8
129.2
124.2
13.1
11.4
12.8
18.3
12.4
13.1
Table II. Results of the peak vertical ground reaction force (Fzpeak) during different exercises performed in aquatic and dry land
environments at cadences corresponding to the rst ventilatory threshold (C1) and second ventilatory threshold (C2) determined during
the aquatic tests.
Fzpeak (BW)
Exercise
Stationary running
Frontal kick
Cross-country skiing
Jumping jacks
Adductor hop
Abductor hop
Cadence
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
Aquatic environment
Percentual reduction
Mean s
Mean s
0.88
1.10
0.92
1.13
0.72
0.88
0.63
0.75
0.51
0.77
0.72
0.94
0.26
0.25
0.20
0.19
0.14
0.14
0.20
0.18
0.12
0.19
0.21
0.30
1.47
1.97
1.45
1.83
1.32
1.53
1.12
1.35
1.23
1.15
1.33
1.31
0.18*
0.37*
0.13*
0.23*
0.10*
0.13*
0.21*
0.35*
0.31*
0.26*
0.30*
0.25*
40.14
44.16
36.55
38.25
45.45
42.48
43.75
44.44
58.54
33.04
45.86
28.24
Notes: *Indicates signicant differences between environments (P < 0.05). Indicates signicant differences between cadences (P < 0.05).
The Fzpeak is expressed in units of BW measured outside the water in both environments.
C. L. Alberton et al.
Figure 2. Forcetime curve for the vertical component of ground reaction force (Fz) in aquatic and dry land environments during the
support phase of the different exercises performed at cadences corresponding to the rst ventilatory threshold (C1) and second ventilatory
threshold (C2) determined during the aquatic tests. The vertical axis indicates the Fz, which is expressed in units of BW measured outside
the water in both environments.
Exercise
Stationary running
Frontal kick
Cross-country skiing
Jumping jacks
Adductor hop
Abductor hop
Cadence
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
Aquatic
environment
Dry land
environment
Mean s
Mean s
0.60
0.27
0.39
0.26
0.32
0.24
0.39
0.29
0.88
0.42
0.82
0.44
0.70
0.05
0.06
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.09
0.08
0.14
0.13
0.21
0.14
0.63
0.42
0.64
0.47
0.50
0.37
0.49
0.37
1.18
0.71
1.10
0.67
0.13
0.10
0.11
0.05
0.08
0.08
0.08
0.08
0.43
0.09
0.31
0.12
stationary running compared to jumping jacks exercise at cadence 1, while signicant differences were
observed between frontal kick and stationary running compared to cross-country skiing, jumping
jacks and adductor hop exercises at cadence 2.
According to the two-way repeated measures
ANOVA, the environment*cadence interaction was
signicant (stationary running: P < 0.001, partial
2 = 0.747; frontal kick: P < 0.001, partial
2 = 0.857; cross-country skiing: P < 0.001, partial
2 = 0.899; jumping jacks: P = 0.005, partial
2 = 0.558; adductor hop: P < 0.001, partial
2 = 0.954; abductor hop: P < 0.001, partial
2 = 0.893) for I, indicating that the slope pattern
of the I along the cadences is dependent on the
environment in which the exercise is performed.
Thus, the main factors were tested again using the
F test, and the results conrmed the main effects
previously found.
Considering environment as the main factor (stationary running: P < 0.001, partial 2 = 0.983; frontal kick: P < 0.001, partial 2 = 0.992; cross-country
skiing: P < 0.001, partial 2 = 0.931; jumping jacks:
P < 0.001, partial 2 = 0.974; adductor hop:
P < 0.001, partial 2 = 0.989; abductor hop:
P < 0.001, partial 2 = 0.971), the I presented signicant differences between the aquatic and dry land
Table IV. Results of the impulse during different exercises performed in aquatic and dry land environments at cadences corresponding to
the rst ventilatory threshold (C1) and second ventilatory threshold (C2) determined during the aquatic tests.
Impulse (N s)
Exercise
Stationary running
Frontal kick
Cross-country skiing
Jumping jacks
Adductor hop
Abductor hop
Cadence
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
C2
Aquatic environment
Percentual reduction
Mean s
Mean s
105.54
79.55
112.1
97.57
66.42
55.45
64.78
50.72
109.19
93.82
134.82
111.96
20.8
16.13
28.95
22.51
27.29
18.48
16.42
19.77
21.44
20.28
44.76
27.75
325.15
253.57
343.57
269.84
243.76
184.1
194.22
152.34
382.98
259.23
385.39
282.77
41.42*
35.73*
52.15*
33.6*
67.69*
52.44*
27.05*
27.03*
42.1*
46.91*
61.89*
49.0*
67.54
68.61
67.37
63.83
72.76
69.85
66.63
66.71
71.49
63.81
65.02
60.40
Notes: *Indicates signicant differences between environments (P < 0.05). Indicates signicant differences between cadences (P < 0.05).
observed in Figure 2. These results corroborate several previous studies that observed lower Fz
responses in immersion compared to dry land for
different exercises. Fz has been investigated over
the last two decades during shallow water walking
(Barela & Duarte, 2008; Barela et al., 2006;
Harrison et al., 1992; Miyoshi et al., 2004;
Nakazawa et al., 1994; Roesler et al., 2006), and
consensus emerged regarding lower Fz in water
compared to on dry land. Studies by Colado et al.
(2010) and Triplett et al. (2009) analysed the peak
Fz during jumps (two- and single-leg) and found
lower values in immersion, i.e. 55% and 45%
reductions, respectively, compared to a dry land
environment. In the present study, the adductor
hop and abductor hop exercises presented characteristics similar to those in jumps, and a reduction
ranging from 28.2% to 58.5% of the peak Fz values
found on dry land was observed in immersion.
These data corroborate the studies mentioned
above. Furthermore, a recent study by BritoFontana et al. (2012) investigated a specic aerobic
head-out aquatic exercise (i.e. stationary running)
and observed at the chest depth immersion a reduction of approximately 46.5% of the peak Fz values
obtained on dry land, at the cadences of 90, 110 and
130 b min1. In the present study, the stationary
running and frontal kick exercises, both performed
with the shared characteristics of single support and
ight phase, yielded a reduction in water from
36.6% to 44.2% of the values on dry land. In addition, the cross-country skiing and jumping jacks
exercises, both performed with the shared characteristics of sliding, evoked a reduction in the peak Fz in
the aquatic environment from 42.5% to 45.5%, corroborating the above-mentioned studies. This
C. L. Alberton et al.
ight phase probably occurs a higher vertical displacement of the centre of mass, and consequently, this
entails in a higher acceleration during the support
phase, when all of the BW is carried by the support
leg. In the present study, a motion capture system
was not used, thus the kinematical parameters were
not assessed to conrm this issue. In contrast, crosscountry skiing and jumping jacks exercises are characterised as exercises performed with bipedal support, such that the change in the foot support phase
is performed by sliding on the plate during hip
extension (cross-country skiing) and hip abduction
(jumping jacks) until the phase with the foot out of
the plate is completed. Thus, possibly the range of
vertical oscillation of the centre of mass during these
exercises is very small compared to the others; these
factors could contribute to their lower peak Fz
values. Other issue to be highlighted is that when
the foot returned to the plate [hip exion (crosscountry skiing) and hip adduction (jumping jacks)],
it is possible that the participants limbs have not
slid, making the foot miss the contact with the plate
due to the change of surface of the ground (i.e.
rough). This result might be veried by the lower
contact time for cross-country skiing and jumping
jacks exercise compared to the others. On the other
hand, adductor hop and abductor hop are characterised by jumps with bipedal support, as well as a
ight phase, and their differences in the supportive
base (support phase with both feet) result in the
intermediate values for abductor hop and the lowest
values for adductor hop. Despite both of these exercises being characterised by jumps, they showed distinct patterns of peak Fz, most likely because
adductor hop is performed with a great support
base that favours cushioning during the hop-landing
phase.
Based on temporal analysis (Figure 2), it is possible to verify that the Fz pattern for stationary running and frontal kick exercises in the aquatic
environment is one single peak. Both exercises
were performed with stationary single-leg hop performed alternately, and these results are in accordance with the ndings by Colado et al. (2010)
that analysed the Fz during two-leg squat jump in
aquatic and on dry land environments. On the other
hand, the adductor hop and abductor hop exercises
showed a different pattern between cadences in the
aquatic environment. At cadence 1, it was found a
rst peak Fz, corresponding to the initial contact, a
valley, corresponding to the mid support, and a second peak, corresponding to the toe-off. In contrast,
at cadence 2 one single peak was veried due to an
alteration in the technique during the support phase
because the contact time was decreased in order to
maintain the rhythm of execution and the range of
movement.
10
C. L. Alberton et al.
5. Conclusions
It can be concluded that ground reaction force peak
and impulse presented lower responses in the aquatic
environment compared to on dry land. However, it is
important to highlight that in spite of the peak of
vertical ground reaction force values (0.51
1.13 BW) during the aerobic head-out aquatic exercises being considered as low odds of muscle-skeletal
injuries (<2 BW), they should be considered while
prescribing programmes in the water environment for
people who need to avoid this type of load. Thus, if
the purpose of the exercise programme is to reduce
the vertical ground reaction forces, exercises with
characteristics similar to adductor hop and jumping
jacks and intensities corresponding to rst ventilatory
threshold should be prioritised in order to reach
values around 0.50.6 BW. Nevertheless, if the purpose is to maximise the vertical ground reaction
forces, exercises with characteristics similar to frontal
kick and stationary running and intensities corresponding to second ventilatory threshold should be
indicated in order to reach values until 1.1 BW.
References
Alberton, C. L., Antunes, A. H., Beilke, D. D., Pinto, S. S.,
Kanitz, A. C., Tartaruga, M. P., & Kruel, L. F. M. (2013).
Maximal and ventilatory threshold of oxygen uptake and rating
of perceived exertion responses to water aerobic exercises.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 27, 18971903.
Alberton, C. L., Kanitz, A. C., Pinto, S. S., Antunes, A. H.,
Finatto, P., Cadore, E. L., & Kruel, L. F. (2013).
Determining the anaerobic threshold in water aerobic exercises:
A comparison between the heart rate deection point and the
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