The Benefits Of Water Aerobics

October 21st, 2019 Becki Andrus

Health Benefits Of Water Aerobics

Do you currently maintain an ongoing exercise regimen, but have recently lost your enthusiasm to continue the activity that you are involved with? Maybe your commitment to this exercise has created physical issues due to repeated impact or repetitive movements?

Or maybe, you have not been exercising on a regular basis, or have avoided the benefits of physical activity completely due to concerns about pain.  

If any of these scenarios apply to you, or if you are simply interested in attempting something new, then water aerobics presents a large number of benefits that you should consider.

Benefits Of Water Aerobics

First, it is important to supply this reminder to any of you who are not currently exercising on a regular basis. It is essential that you find some activity in which you can remain active. The risks of prolonged sitting were examined here and they include the unwanted conditions of heart damage, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Failing to remain physically active on a routine basis also increases the chances of experiencing obesity. It also raises the risk of anxiety issues along with the likelihood of discomfort in your back.

Finding a physical activity that you can remain involved with consistently is also critical in reducing the risk of blood clots (DVT) emerging in your legs. The danger of DVTs is serious, as any movement of clots into your lungs or heart can be fatal.

Choosing to remain involved in an exercise that occurs in the water can reduce the risk of these issues. It will also provide multiple benefits of low impact. This is advantageous because it allows you to avoid pressure on your joints, bones, and muscles. Water also provides natural resistance which will boost the strength of your muscles.

Why Water Exercise Is Effective

Water exercise will supply the additional advantages of increasing your endurance, improving your circulation, allowing you to rehabilitate any problematic muscles, and reducing your stress level. Plus, you can become involved with water aerobics even if you do not already know how to swim.

This is accomplished because your presence in the water eliminates gravity to the point that your normal body weight is reduced by 90%. Yet, the water will also supply 12%-14% more resistance than you will encounter from the air. All of which essentially allows you to have the equivalent of carrying weights that surround your body, without significant impact or stress.  

Water aerobics provides the added benefit of lowering your blood pressure, along with your LDL cholesterol – which is referred to as your bad cholesterol. It will also raise your HDL (good cholesterol). But aerobics can also be beneficial for anyone who is dealing with arthritis and can help individuals who experience problems with their knees.

According to Harvard Health Publications, an adult will burn 120-178 calories in 30 minutes of water aerobics, depending on body weight. The more you weigh, the more calories you will burn. This occurs because your body weighs less in water, and you don’t have to expend as much energy.

If you are an older adult, this is an outstanding option toward remaining physically active. Exercising in the water will also bolster your strength and increase your stamina without placing stress on your joints. If other forms of exercise have caused pain in the past, then water-based exercise could provide a pathway toward improved well-being. However, it is best to have a conversation with your physician if you have encountered issues with physical activity in the past.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that water-based exercise will be beneficial for individuals with chronic diseases. This is also the case for anyone who deals with arthritis. Exercising in the water can also improve your mental health, regardless of your age.

What Happens In In A Water Aerobics Class

It is reasonable to expect that your water aerobics class will take place for approximately one hour. During that span, you will be located in the shallow area of a pool. 

The exercises that you will be involved with should include various movements with your legs. This could also include forms of walking, lifting, shuffling, and light forms of jumping. There could also be exercises that involve kicking through the use of a kickboard.  

These exercises that you complete will boost your heart rate. But as a reminder – there should be no concern that your body will encounter the same level of impact that would occur with workouts outside of the water.

Your arms will also be used during class for activities such as curls, and a percentage of movements will utilize both your arms and legs. After each class has been completed, you will have taken advantage of the physical and mental benefits that water aerobics can deliver.  

At Orthopedic Associates, We Are Here To Help

At Orthopedic Associates, we want you to enjoy your daily activities. That includes involvement with any type of sports or recreational activity that you prefer. If you encounter discomfort, illness, injury, or have a concern about anything that might keep you from being involved in physical activity, we are here to assist you, so that you can return to pain-free participation in the activities and lifestyle that you enjoy.  

That is why Orthopedic Associates offers a full spectrum of musculoskeletal care, along with in-house physical sports therapy, and state-of-the-art-technology including our digital imaging and open MRI, and an on-site surgical center for more patient convenience.

Our board-certified doctors have been practicing medicine for a combined total of 183 years of experience. This includes expertise in sports medicine, through which our physicians provide personalized care for a broad range of sports-related injuries – big or small.

In addition to the services that we provide that are related to Sports Medicine and In-House Imaging, our physicians are always available to utilize their knowledge to help you should you require joint replacement, or arthroscopic surgery, while our specialists are also here to assist with physical therapy, rehabilitation, and orthopedic trauma.

We encourage you to visit one of our Orthopedic Associates two locations or request an appointment today to be on your way to feeling better.

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