Pool workouts and water aerobics can trigger PTSD among runners who associate this activity with injury recovery. The extra buoyancy and resistance of water is often prescribed to lower the pounding impact during injury rehab, but there’s no need to create a negative mental connection between time in the pool and the bad memories of a past injury. We prefer a “pool half full” approach since a new study found that: “Water aerobics could boost VO2 max by 12%, science says.” The study participants hit the pool and performed jumping jacks, high knees, water jogging, and other resistance-based movements for a period of 8 weeks. Crucially, they were done at a moderate to high intensity. In other words, you can’t just tread water at your favorite resort’s swim-up bar. You’ll have to take advantage of all that added liquid resistance to really push your muscles hard and grow your VO2 max. The upside is you’ll get lower impact forces than a HIIT workout performed on solid ground, which could be useful for athletes concerned about injuries or overtraining. More good ideas are here: “Why Aqua Jogging Is a Good Cross-Training Workout.” This article from Healthline notes that aqua jogging can help with running form training as well as general aerobic development. It’s particularly useful for training through the hot summer months according to: “The Ultimate Guide to Aqua Jogging: Workouts & Benefits.” Your best bet is picking up a flotation belt or underwater treadmill.
#Poolitics
