Neuromuscular Activity and Muscular Oxygenation Through Different Movement Cadences During In-water and On-land Knee Extension Exercise

Effects of aquatic exercises on physical fitness and quality of life in postmenopausal women: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate and update the effects of aquatic exercise on physical fitness and quality of life (QoL) in postmenopausal women.

Methods

The databases Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, and MEDLINE were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the topic from inception to July 2022. The GetData software was used to extract data from the published images. RevMan5.4 software was used for statistical analysis. Data are expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). I² index was employed for heterogeneity. Egger's test was used to assess publication bias. We evaluated the methodological quality of included studies using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale.

Results

We included 594 participants in 16 RCTs (19 comparison groups). The results indicated that aquatic exercise can significantly improve lower limb strength (LLS), upper limb strength (ULS), agility, flexibility, and overall QoL. No significant effects were found on aerobic capacity. Subgroup-analysis results indicated that aquatic exercise only significantly improved LLS, ULS, agility, and flexibility in postmenopausal women < 65 years of age. However, aquatic exercise improves the overall QoL both in postmenopausal women < 65 years and ≥ 65 years. Aquatic resistance exercise significantly improves LLS, ULS, agility and flexibility. In addition, aquatic aerobic exercise can effectively increase LLS, and combined aquatic aerobic and resistance exercise can enhance the overall QoL.

Conclusions

Aquatic exercise can effectively improve physical fitness and overall QoL in postmenopausal women, but has limited effects on aerobic capacity; thus, it is highly recommended in postmenopausal women.

The effects of water-based exercise on body composition: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the effects of water-based exercise (WBE) on body composition.

METHODS

Trials published up to October 28, 2022 were searched using the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, and Ovid databases. Randomized controlled trials of healthy adults published in English, comparing WBE and control groups, were included. Other studies with different research designs and participants with medical diagnoses were excluded. The main outcome measures were body weight (BW), body fat mass (BFM), body fat percentage (BFP), lean mass (LM), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM).

RESULTS

Overall, 17,458 potential studies were identified. After a closer inspection, 79 full-length articles were considered for further screening. Finally, 20 studies, involving 565 participants, were included in the meta-analysis. The WBE was beneficial in reducing BW, BFM, and BFP and increasing LM and SMM. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on different exercise intensities and times per week. Moderate- or moderate-vigorous-intensity exercise helped improve body composition, while lower-intensity WBE or aquatic high-intensity interval training (HIIT) seemed less helpful. Training for <120 min/week was insufficient to improve body composition. Training for >120 min/week was associated with improvements in body composition.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate- or moderate-vigorous-intensity WBE helps improve body composition. Adults are encouraged to exercise for >120 min/week.

Lower Limb Muscles' Activation during Ascending and Descending a Single Step-Up Movement: Comparison between In water and On land Exercise at Different Step Cadences in Young Injury-Free Adults

(1) Background: Forward step-up (FSU) simulates the stance phase in stair ascension. With the benefits of physical properties of water, aquatic FSU exercise may be more suitable for patients with lower limb weakness or pain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of progressive steps per min on the surface electromyography (sEMG) of gluteus maximus (GM), biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), and gastrocnemius (GA), when performing FSU exercise with different steps per min in water and on land. (2) Methods: Participants (N = 20) were instructed to perform FSU exercises at different steps per min (35, 60, and 95 bpm) in water and on land. The sEMG of the tested muscles were collected. The percentage maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) of GM, RF, GA and BF at different environments and steps per min was compared. (3) Result: There was a statistically significant difference of %MVIC of RF at all steps per min comparisons regardless of the movement phases and environments (p < 0.01, except for descending phases of 35 bpm vs. 60 bpm). All tested muscles showed a statistically significant lower muscle activation in water (p < 0.05) (4) Conclusion: This study found that the %MVIC of the tested muscle in both investigated environments increase as steps per minute increases. It is also found that the movement pattern of FSU exercise activates RF the most among all the tested muscles. Muscle activation of all tested muscles is also found to be smaller in water due to buoyancy property of water. Aquatic FSU exercise might be applicable to patients with lower limb weakness or knee osteoarthritis to improve their lower limb strength.

Wearable technologies for monitoring aquatic exercises: A systematic review

Objective

To review methods for aquatic exercise monitoring using wearables.

Data sources

Database search of PubMed, IEEEXplore, Scopus and Web of Science based on keywords, considering articles from the year 2000. The last search was performed on 26 October 2022.

Review methods

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, eligible articles on water exercises were selected and summarized. Further screening process concentrated on studies exploiting wearable devices, organized according to demographics, purpose, protocols, outcomes and methods. A custom critical appraisal questionnaire was applied.

Results

Out of the 1062 articles identified, 572 were considered eligible and subjected to preliminary synthesis. The final review focused on 27 articles featuring wearable devices applied to aquatic exercises. Four studies were disregarded as they applied wearable devices to determine daily physical activity or for sleep monitoring after training. Summary tables of 23 studies exploiting wearable devices for underwater motion analysis are provided, specifying the investigated parameters, major outcomes and study quality. This review identified four research gaps: (a) the absence of clinical protocols for underwater motion studies, (b) a deficit of whole-body studies, (c) the lack of longitudinal studies monitored via wearable devices and (d) the reliance of underwater studies on measurement and assessment methods developed for land-based investigations.

Conclusions

This review emphasizes the need for both technological and methodological improvements for underwater motion analysis studies using wearables. We advocate for longitudinal clinical investigations with wearables to substantiate water exercise as an addition or replacement for land-based physical activity.

Land vs. water HIIE effects on muscle oxygenation and physiological parameter responses in postmenopausal women

Muscle oxygenation (MO) status is the dynamic balance between O₂ utilization and O₂ delivery. Low-impact high-intensity interval exercise MO responses in the exercise and recovery stage are still unclear. We compared the differences in MO and physiological parameters between high-intensity interval water-based exercise (WHIIE) and high-intensity interval land bike ergonomic exercise (LBEHIIE) in postmenopausal women. Eleven postmenopausal women completed WHIIE or LBEHIIE in counter-balanced order. Eight sets were performed and each exercise set included high intensity with 80% heart rate reserve (HRR) in 30 s and dynamic recovery with 50% HRR in 90 s. Muscle tissue oxygen saturation index (TSI), total hemoglobin (tHb), oxy-hemoglobin (O₂Hb), and deoxy-hemoglobin (HHb) were recorded. Blood lactate, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at pre and post-exercise. Under similar exercise intensity, RPE in WHIIE was lower than that in LBEHIIE. The heart rate in WHIIE was lower than that in LBEHIIE at 1 and 2 min post-exercise. During the dynamic recovery, TSI, tHb, and O2Hb in water were higher than on land. A negative correlation was found between the change in TSI and lactate concentration (r = − 0.664). WHIIE produced greater muscle oxygenation during dynamic recovery. Muscle TSI% was inversely related to blood lactate concentration during exercise in water.

Muscle Activation and Distribution during Four Test/Functional Tasks: A Comparison between Dry-Land and Aquatic Environments for Healthy Older and Young Adults

BACKGROUND

The use of rehabilitation protocols carried out in water has been progressively increasing due to the favorable physical properties of the water. Electromyography allows one to register muscle activity even under water.

AIM

To compare muscle activity between two groups (healthy young adults (HYA) and healthy older adults (HOA)) in two different environments (dry land and aquatic) using surface electromyography during the execution of four different test/functional movements.

METHODS

Analytical cross-sectional study. HYA and HOA carried out four functional tasks (Step Up and Down, Sit To Stand test, Gait Initiation and Turns During Gait) in two different environments (dry land and aquatic). Absolute and relative muscle activation was compared between each group and between each environment. In addition, the stability of the measured was calculated through a test-retest (ICC 2:1).

RESULTS

Within the same environment there were significant differences between young and older adults in three of the four functional tasks. In contrast, in the gait initiation, hardly any significant differences were found between the two groups analysed, except for the soleus and the anterior tibial. Measurement stability ranged from good to excellent.

CONCLUSIONS

Level of the musculature involvement presents an entirely different distribution when the test/functional task is performed on dry land or in water. There are differences both in the relative activation of the musculature and in the distribution of the partition of the muscles comparing older and young adults within the same environment.

Effects of land vs water jump exercise: Implications for exercise design targeting bone health

PURPOSE

To quantify ground reaction force (GRF), osteogenic index (OI), muscle activity, and blood lactate levels during continuous jumping performed in water and on land.

METHODS

Thirteen post-menopausal women (59.5 ± 6.8 years) performed two bouts of jumping, on land (LND) and in water at a depth of 1 m (WEX). Each 10-minute, 40-second bout consisted of 2 consecutive sets of squat, lunge, jumping jax, countermovement, and single legged jumps as intervals: 10 seconds maximal effort and 60 seconds recovery at 50% of heart rate reserve (HRR). Pre- and post-exercise lower extremity rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded, and 10-µL earlobe blood samples were collected to assess lactate concentration. During exercise, data were collected for electromyography, GRF, and heart rate. Total GRF (TGRF) and total muscular activity (TMA) during each 10 seconds of jumping were measured. OI for one bout of continued jumps was determined by averaging GRF·ln (number of jumps + 1).

RESULTS

There were no differences between WEX and LND for percent HRR and RPE. TGRF, OI, TMA, and lactate concentration on LND jumps were significantly higher than WEX.

CONCLUSION

At similar cardiorespiratory and RPE levels, the lower impact loading of 10 minutes 40 seconds of interval continuous jumping exercise in 1-m depth was less osteogenic than on land. However, one daily bout of water jumping, 5 days per week resulted in a similar OI as 3 days of jumping on land. WEX might substitute or provide an adjunct to LND exercise to promote bone health.