esting. Performing the same exercises over and over becomes boring and reduces the potential for progression. Try switching it up from time to time and ask participants what they would like to see in class. This not only keeps them engaged, but it also allows them to have a say in their exercise pro- gram, which may make working out that much more fun! Aquatic exercise is a great modality to use for all populations but especially those with special considerations, such as MS. The aquatic environment provides beneficial qualities that may improve exercise adherence. The documented benefits in quality of life, fatigue, and strength, make aquatic exercise a must-try exercise option for individuals with MS. An enjoyable and inviting class can provide participants with social interaction and health ben- efits to help everyone live life to the fullest! n Resources Bayraktar D., A. Guclu-Gunduz, G. Yazi- ci, J. Lambeck. 2013. Effects of Ai-Chi on balance, functional mobility, strength and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. Neu- ro Rehabilitation. 3(33):431–7. Frohman A.N., D.T. Okuda, S. Beh, et al. 2015. Aquatic training in MS: neu- rotherapeutic impact upon quality of life. Annals of Clinical and Translation- al Neurology. 2(8):864–72. Gehlsen G.M., S.A. Grigsby, D.M. Winant. 1984. Effects of an aquatic fitness program on the muscular strength and endurance of patients with multiple sclerosis. Physical Therapy. 64(5):653– 7. Rubin, S.M. 2013. Management of mul- tiple sclerosis: An overview. Disease- a-Month. 59(7):253–60. Author Rachael Mears is a Senior Exer- cise Physiology major with an emphasis in Aquatic Therapy and a minor in Sport and Exer- cise Psychology at West Virgin- ia University. She is originally from Charles- ton, West Virginia and is currently an AEA certified Aquatic Fitness Professional and certified AEA Arthritis Foundation Program Leader. She plans on attending school for a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree after she graduates in May. 16 | Akwa | December 2017 / January 2018 Bringing Athletes to the Water By Nick Stoop, BS Primarily, athletic training programs place heavy emphasis on land-based exercise. The most common use of the pool for non-aquatic athletes is rehabilitation, such as following lower extremity surgery and injury to the spine. The pool also offers effective means of cross training for athletes. Cross-country runners, distance run- ners, marathon runners, and triathletes are all aerobic athletes that could benefit from this form of cross training. Water – A Unique Environment But how can aquatic training benefit ALL athletes? The unique properties of water can make training in an aquatic environment more advantageous than only training on land. Viscosity refers to a fluid’s resistance to flow. The viscosity of water is 0.01 com- pared to that of air, which is 0.00018. This makes water 55.5 times more viscous than air, which directly relates to water’s resistive property. More resistance can be generated when exercising in an aquatic environment as compared to similar movements performed on land. This drag resistance is related to the speed of movement. Therefore, an individual can control the amount of resistance, and thus the required muscular effort to per- form the exercise, by altering the speed of movement. Increasing the movement speed will result in a linear increase in the resistance. In summary, the faster you move in water, the greater the resistance. However, be aware that speed may also influence range of motion and/or technique. The water’s resistance is provided equally in all directions against the body. This allows opposing muscle groups to be utilized in both phases of an exercise, i.e.
