It is summer and hot outside! A great excuse for getting to the water for exercise and to cool off! Aquatic exercise is not for sissies. Pool exercises are extremely beneficial for anyone who has arthritis, fibromyalgia or chronic pain. Yet, it is also helpful for those who wish to condition for a sport. Young or old; age doesn’t matter because a water workout is a good one to get your heart rate elevated and increase your strength. Many professional athletes cross train in the pool for conditioning.  And, the pool is usually the first site for rehabilitation for an injured athlete because it is such a safe environment.
Water is safe because your body is buoyant relieving stress on the weight bearing joints (ankles, hips, knees, spine). Therefore, if you have arthritis and walking on land is painful for your knees, walking in the water will be less painful. If the water temperature is elevated for increased warmth, that is an extra benefit for arthritic joints.

Moving in the water, whether it is a walk or a simulated run, is challenging because the water acts as resistance thus strengthening your muscles without stressing the joints. You can run or walk in chest high water or  run in deeper water using a floatation device. In chest high water, try walking forward, sideways or backwards for 20 minutes, striving for upright posture at the same time.

If you are interested in strengthening your arms and legs, try standing in chest high water and doing some exercises. Holding onto the edge of the pool or holding onto a floatation device helps you feel safer. The faster move your arms and legs, the greater the resistance of the water. There are also several devices available to wear on your hands and feet to increase your resistance training.
The water is a perfect environment to practice your balance because if you fall over, you won’t hurt yourself! Practice standing on one leg or doing some squats in the pool.  Of course, swimming also is another form of aquatic exercise that is terrific.

Whether you hop into a pool, lake or river, a water workout adds variety to your exercise program which the body loves. The more ways you learn to exercise the better conditioned you become. It also helps with boredom in your regime. Start with a 20 minute session and then increase it gradually (you’ll be surprised how tired you will be). And, it is a great way to cool off!