Short and long-term effects of water-based aerobic and concurrent training on cardiorespiratory capacity and strength of older women

Abstract

Studies show that, in the short term, water-based aerobic training (WAT) promotes the same strength gains as water-based concurrent training (WCT). In addition, it is known that some training progression strategy must be employed after the first weeks of training in order to continue stimulating neuromuscular gains. The aim of this paper was to compare the effects of three water-based training on cardiorespiratory capacity and strength of older women in short and long-terms. Fifty-seven participants were randomized into the groups: 1) aerobic training (AT); 2) concurrent training whose resistance training progressed to the use of resistive equipment (CTRE); and 3) concurrent training whose resistance training progressed to multiple sets (CTMS). Participants trained twice a week for 16 weeks. An incremental treadmill test and the one-repetition maximal test of knee extensors were performed before and after 8 and 16 weeks. Peak oxygen consumption showed similar increases from pre to post-16 weeks (AT: 9%, CTRE: 11%, CTMS: 5%). Oxygen consumption at the second ventilatory threshold and strength were increased from pre to post-8 weeks (AT: 15%, CTRE: 16%, CTMS: 3% and AT: 9%, CTRE: 5%, CTMS: 9%, respectively) and from post-8 to post-16 weeks (AT: 6%, CTRE: 3%, CTMS: 12% and AT: 4%, CTRE: 8%, CTMS: 4%, respectively). In conclusion, the three training programs promoted similar increases in the cardiorespiratory capacity and WAT promoted similar strength gains as WCT in short and long terms. Moreover, the use of resistive equipment and the increase in the number of sets are effective progression strategies.

Keywords: Aerobic training; Aquatic training; Concurrent training; Exercise; Water-based training.