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Water provides the solution for people who have chronic health conditions such as arthritis, back pain, but also COPD or diabetes that prevent them from following high intensity HIIT training programs
Their own share in its benefits high intensity interval training (HIIT) can be claimed by people who avoided or were unable to engage in vigorous exercise due to chronic health conditions such as arthritis and spinal conditions. According to a study published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, water is offered as a safe and effective alternative to “hard” soil.
Numerous studies have proven the beneficial effect of HIIT training on health and longevity while increasing aerobic capacity and endurance. The aquatic HIIT (AHIIT) as its aquatic version is called, it protects exercisers from shock and relieves pressure on joints, allowing individuals to complete their exercises. It remained to be proven to be just as effective.
The researchers then analyzed 18 studies that compared the ways in which AHIIT training improved participants’ exercise capacity (based on oxygen uptake, gait and fitness tests) with Ground HIIT (LBHIIT), moderate-intensity exercise in water (AMICT) and the results of a no-exercise control group. The sample consisted of 868 people – mainly women (74%) – with one or more chronic conditions such as back pain, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), type 2 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Differences between groups were expressed as mean differences (MD) with an MD of 0.2–0.5 indicating a small effect, 0.5–0.8 a moderate effect, and 0.8 or more a large effect.
The results showed that AHIIT moderately improved exercise capacity of participants compared to no exercise at all (SD 0.78) and had a small beneficial effect compared to AMICT (SD 0.45). However, no difference in exercise capacity was observed for ground HIIT training and LBHIIT.
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The AHIIT group reported fewer adverse events than the LBHIIT group, with participants completing the workouts at a rate from 84% to 100%.
The researchers clarified that this was an observational study that did not prove causal relationships, and the fact that some of the trials were not blinded may have influenced the results. Furthermore, none of the studies looked at long-term positive effects on exercise capacity or quality of life. However, the detailed search strategy and the inclusion of various chronic conditions, adverse events and physical exercise compliance allowed for a deeper understanding of AHIIT in various populations.
«A key finding of this meta-analysis is that AHIIT appears to be as beneficial as LBHIIT, offering people with chronic conditions an alternative or possibly a more appropriate environment to initiate and continue high-intensity trainingthe researchers said, attributing the benefits to the natural support and buoyancy of the water.