The positive effects of water exercise are being acknowledged globally!

Thanks to a friend of mine, I had a chance to read some very positive results of a study published in Japan Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine in 2010. The authors looked specifically at the effects of aquatic exercise on the trunk muscles function and if the activities of the daily living improved. They had two groups of women: a group of 19 women with abdominal obesity and 15 women without abdominal obesity. Both groups trained in the water for 60min daily, 3 times a week, for 8 weeks. Although both groups showed positive results in some parameters, the obese group showed bigger improvements in lower body strength and activities of the daily living. This group also showed a significant improvement in core muscles endurance and abdominal circumference from when they first started.

The study suggests that when we have strong lower body and core muscles, we can do daily activities more easily, such as climbing, descending stairs and carrying groceries. Consider water exercise as a way to build your lower body and core muscles, so that daily living activities will be easier.