Principles of Exercise in Water Flashcards
(10 cards)
What are the key physical properties of water relevant to exercise?
Density and buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, viscosity, and thermodynamics.
What is buoyancy and how does it affect exercise in water?
Buoyancy is the upward force opposing gravity; it reduces body weight and joint loading in water.
Explain Archimedes’ Principle in the context of water immersion.
An object immersed in water displaces an equal volume of water and receives an upward buoyant force.
What does hydrostatic pressure do during water immersion?
It increases with depth, assisting venous return and circulation while increasing the work of breathing.
How does water viscosity influence resistance during exercise?
Water’s viscosity creates resistance when moving through it, requiring more effort, especially at higher speeds.
What is drag in aquatic therapy?
Drag is the resistance created by water when a body moves through it, influenced by speed and surface area.
How does thermodynamics make water suitable for therapy?
Water holds and transmits heat more efficiently than air, aiding in circulation, relaxation, and soft tissue elasticity.
Why do people with more adipose tissue float better?
Adipose tissue is less dense than muscle, making individuals more buoyant in water.
How does water depth influence body weight in water?
At neck depth (C7), body weight is reduced to about 10% of its land value due to buoyancy.
What practical implications does water resistance have on exercise prescription?
Water resistance can be used to support, resist, or assist movement, making aquatic therapy highly adaptable.
