METABOLIC RESPONSES AND MECHANISMS DURING WATER IMMERSION RUNNING ANDEXERCISE

The low impact nature of exercise in the water has increased interest in this form of exercise and specifically in water running as a cross- training modality. it is used as a possible preventative and therapeut ic modality for rehabilitation. The high impact nature of land running predisposes the runner to stress of the lower limbs and overuse injur ies. The need to reduce impact, as well as provide a low impact or non -weight-bearing condition for rehabilitation, has led runners and thei r coaches to the water. This increased interest by coaches and their a thletes, attending sports medicine physicians and rehabilitative profe ssionals has stimulated research into water immersion to the neck (WI) running. Exercise in the water has long been used by rehabilitative p rofessionals with patients who have physically debilitating conditions (i.e. arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders) as it provides a medium f or even those with limited mobility to exercise and relax their muscle s. Numerous comparative studies into WI running from a metabolic as we ll as a training perspective have been published. WI has also long bee n used to simulate weightlessness for the comparative study of cardior espiratory function and thermoregulation. WI and the associated cephal ad shift in blood volume has implications on exercise responses during WI running exercise. In addition, the non-weight-bearing nature of WI running also raises issues of the cross-training benefits of WI runni ng. WI running style and prior familiarity with the activity have been found to have a direct relationship with the comparability of WI to l and running. This review presents current research into WI running, tr aining specificity and comparative physiology.