The Benefits of a Water Treadmill Pool

A water treadmill pool provides a low-impact workout that’s great for muscle building and core and leg strength training. It also helps control blood pressure. According to a study conducted by TAMU, people who exercise on an underwater treadmill see greater reductions in exercise systolic and diastolic BP levels.

These treadmills are a great addition to sports medicine facilities, physical therapy clinics and even senior-living communities. They offer a wide range of benefits for patients of all abilities.

Strength

Unlike the traditional treadmill, which puts more stress on muscles and joints than your body weight can tolerate, water treadmills allow people to exercise at full capacity without joint pain. As a bonus, the hydrostatic pressure in the water provides added resistance, so users experience a more intense workout than water treadmill pool they would on land. Moreover, the buoyancy of the water reduces impact by about 75%.

The combination of these factors make the aquatic treadmill ideal for cardio and strength training, as well as injury prevention. Moreover, it increases muscle aerobic capacity and strengthens both the lower and upper body simultaneously. For example, one ice hockey player that struggled with chronic patella tendonitis found she was able to improve her overall fitness level after switching all her workouts to the underwater treadmill.

Almost any type of strength or endurance exercise can be performed in the water. To help enhance the effectiveness of a pool workout, trainers often recommend adding water tools like foam dumbbells or strap-on ankle or wrist weights that provide additional resistance to arm or leg exercises. In addition to these basic equipment, trainers may also add in plyometric exercises such as hurdles or ladder drills. These types of workouts are highly effective at enhancing hip, knee and foot strength and improving balance. Moreover, they are particularly helpful for athletes who have had surgery or who suffer from conditions such as osteoarthritis.

Flexibility

In addition to strengthening, walking in a water treadmill can improve flexibility and reduce the risk of injury. This allows patients to start physical therapy sooner than they could on land, accelerating their recovery.

Athletes and patients who walk regularly in the zero gravity of an underwater treadmill can build up their strength, improve their posture and mobility, strengthen their knees, thighs and calves, and tone their muscles. In fact, a recent study from TAMU found that athletes who use water exercise on a regular basis have more lean body mass than those who only perform on-land exercises.

Increasing the treadmill speed in a Hudson pool increases the turbulence and resistance of the water, increasing the intensity of your workout without adding additional stress to joints. For example, slow speeds (0.1 to 0.6 mph) help patients with neurologic problems and arthritic conditions build endurance and confidence while improving balance. Medium speeds (1 to 2 mph) increase joint-friendly exertion and a high level of aerobic fitness. Fast speeds (2.2 to 5 mph) offer a challenging cardiovascular and fat-burning workout.

In waist-height water, your body weight is reduced by about 80 percent, significantly reducing joint impact. Combined with the relaxing effects of the massage hose, these factors can significantly reduce pain and increase range of motion. The sensory stimulation of warm water also helps to soothe sore joints and muscles, further helping with flexibility.

Endurance

Water treadmills are a great way to improve endurance and burn calories. They are a low-impact option for cardio and strength training, helping you get in shape faster than traditional treadmills.

The treadmill’s buoyancy helps reduce the impact on joints and muscles, allowing you to train at full speed with less pain. The resistance from the water creates a powerful workout that will improve your cardiovascular conditioning and increase your muscle mass.

Unlike a regular treadmill, which only bears the weight of your body, an underwater treadmill can reduce your body weight by up to four-fifths. This can reduce the water treadmill pool stress on your joints, tendons and ligaments by reducing the pressure exerted by your weight on your knees, ankles and hips.

A TAMU study also found that runners who alternated resistance training with underwater treadmill training experienced greater improvements in their lean body mass than those who only performed resistance training. The combination of buoyancy, resistance and hydrostatic compression in a water treadmill pool improves balance, mobility, flexibility and posture.

People with joint and muscle problems, like osteoarthritis, are often hesitant to exercise because they fear increased pain or discomfort. But, because of the buoyancy and resistance of the water, patients with chronic conditions can start exercising in a water treadmill pool within days after surgery or injury. In fact, walking or running in a water treadmill can help alleviate the pain of osteoarthritis and other chronic conditions, including arthritis and tendonitis.

Joint Health

Training in a water treadmill allows users to exercise at the same intensity on land without putting too much stress on joints, muscles and ligaments. Buoyancy reduces impact, making it a great option for people with knee and hip issues; muscular dystrophy or atrophy; lower-extremity injuries; or those recovering from surgery or illness.

The therapeutic effects of warm water provide additional benefits for patients with joint pain or stiffness. Research has found that underwater treadmill therapy can increase physical mobility, strengthen the body and reduce arthritic pain, according to Utah State University studies. The water also helps to relieve joint inflammation and swelling.

Water treadmill therapy can improve posture and gait, and help prevent injuries by improving form. For example, a client should try to keep their back straight and a consistent turnover of 180 strides per minute, as well as consistently pump arms.

Adding resistance jets can boost calorie burns and allow for safe progression from rehab to competitive cross-training. The water treadmill pool provides a dynamic and challenging workout with up to 12x the resistance of on-land training, helping athletes train harder while minimizing injury risk. The adjustable water depth allows trainers and therapists to customize workouts for every level of ability, from mild to vigorous. The HydroWorx 1200 Series treadmill also features a mounted iPad and camera for real-time gait analysis and feedback to help correct bad habits while running in the water.