Effects of training on land and in water on VO2max in college aged men and women

Abstract

21 volunteers, aged 18-24 yrs; were randomly assigned to train on land (males, n=6; females, n=5) or in water (males, n=5; females, n=5) for 6 wks. Max exercise tests utilizing running protocols were completed on the TM and in the pool before and after training. A MANOVA with repeated measures was used to analyze diff in pre-post training, gender, mode of testing and type of training. For all groups, post-training, VEmax, RERmax, and VO2max were sig (p<0.01). higher than pre-training, while HRmax was sig (p<0.01) higher during pre-training trials. Males were sig (p<0.01) higher than females in VEmax, HRmax, and VO2max. No sig (p>0.01) diff between gender was noted for RERmax. No interaction of factors was shown for gender, indicating that males and females responded similarly to training. TM values for VO2max, and RERmax were sig (p<0.01) higher than pool values, with no sig (p>0.01) diff in VEmax or HRmax. There were no sig (p>0.01) diff in VEmax, HRmax, or VO2max between the group which trained on land versus in water. The only statistical sig (p<0.01) noted was the water group exhibited higher RERmax values than the land group, indicating the group which trained in water may have been more motivated during testing. Running on land and in water produced similar physiological adaptations to training, evident by no interaction between factors.