Smart Sport International - Running On The Moon

Running On The Moon

Written by Allan Besselink, PT, Dip.MDT
Monday, 12 November 2007
It's become a popular rehab activities for runners. It's name: aqua jogging. Some use it as a means of "cross-training". Articles rave about it. Aqua jogging - otherwise known as "deep water running" - or how to become a better runner on the moon. You think I am joking? Let's look at the "evidence" and draw some conclusions. One of the primary perceived benefits of aqua jogging is that it allows you to maintain your aerobic capacity while injured. Yes, there is some truth to this. Yes, deep water running does provide a good aerobic training session - at least in the most basic terms. Of course, this would assume that losing your aerobic capacity for running is of primary concern while injured. If you look at the science behind it, you would have to have about 4 weeks of inactivity to lose your aerobic capacity. You can maintain this in many ways - without putting on an aqua jogging vest. Running in water amounts to being weightless. Astronauts train in water because it mimics the effects of space flight. It provides the sense of weightlessness found with a decrease in gravitational forces in space. The problem is, running injuries are typically an issue of weight-bearing. They typically involve the body's inability to withstand loading, both during acceleration and deceleration of the body weight in stance. By training in the water, we are effectively allowing the body to ... well, to get really good at running in a weightless environment - or, as I always say, running on the moon. You see, the effect of running in water is dependent upon the depth of the water you're running in. If you are submerged up to your shoulders, you are unloaded by 90%, thereby loading the body with 10% of your body weight. On the moon, gravity is one sixth that of on earth - or 17%. Water running is even less than working out on the moon!! People speak of the increased density of water, and thus an increase in resistance in moving through it. Yes, there is an increase in density - and thus an applied resistance to the limbs with movement. This would strengthen the muscle tissues but again, in a non-weight-bearing environment. Again, if running injuries are problems of weight-bearing, I fail to see the benefit of this practice unless the client is unable to bear weight at all (which, in many if not most cases, is a very short period of time after even a significant injury). Let's face it - most running injuries will come in to the clinic fully (or at least partially) weight-bearing - it is only with the initiation of eccentric loading (i.e. with running) that the symptoms are produced. Deep water running does have some benefits - though the benefits can be accomplished with far less cost, hassle, and even greater beneficial and optimal tissue loading with earth-bound exercise programs. Unless, of course, you want to run on the moon ... or more accurately, Pluto .... but the first marathon in Pluto is probably a few years off ... {mos_smf_discuss} Bookmark Email this Hits: 3410 Trackback(0) TrackBack URI for this entry Comments (3) Subscribe to this comment's feed No Try Tri written by Tammy , May 11, 2008 Good observations, and while I agree, I think the main benefit of aqua jogging may be mental/emotional. Injury and "down time" can be very difficult for the athlete to deal with. The aqua jogging provides a focus / outlet that keeps them active while not adding to the injury. Most high-level, or even mid-level, athletes will start running again too soon due to fear of loosing too much fitness, and end up exacerbating the injury. So I think it's a good tool for the short-term. Getting to the root ... written by Allan , May 11, 2008 Tammy - Thanks for your comments - and welcome to the site! You bring up some good points. The aspect of mental focus is so important in the rehab of any injury. Keeping the athlete mentally engaged in the process of their recovery and educating them in the ways to accomplish this effectively are very important. And yes, athletes jump back into "full training" too soon, typically after a period of relative rest and nothing else. Running injuries are generally problems of weight-bearing - so I always want to get the athlete back to weight-bearing activities ASAP. If they are currently unable to do any weight-bearing activities (i.e., a significant ankle sprain), then I would agree with you - mentally (and physically) there may be some benefit to aquajogging. The athlete can benefit from the "focus/outlet" (as you mentioned) and continue to feel like they are doing something constructive to maintain their fitness. But once the athlete is able to perform weight-bearing activities, then they are far better off doing something that will help them maintain the loading capacity of their tissues. This could include use of the bike, elliptical trainer, or even very fast-paced walking. Running in the pool does not allow you to maintain or increase your loading capacity. It will allow you to work aerobically - but is that the key element that we want to prevent from de-training while injured? Of course, as all things go, there is a balance point to all of this! The concern that I have, with athletes that I have seen in the past, is that aqua jogging is prescribed for just about everything, and at all stages in the injury recovery process. While the athlete (and health care provider) may feel like they are doing something productive, they may actually be delaying the tissue repair and remodeling process - and actually delaying the athlete's full recovery. ... written by Marshall Burt , May 12, 2008 Running in the pool started becoming popular right around the time I was coaching at the high school level in the mid 1980's. My opinion is that athletes who overtrain on land, will likely continue that trend in the pool. The physical work will likely keep cortisol [stress hormone] levels elevated and slow the reversal of their injury issues. Physiologically......rest, lite massage, Jaccuzzi, and other healing modalities will likely have their best effects in the absence of further training, both in the short and long term. Write comment Name Email Website Title Comment smaller \| bigger Subscribe via email (registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
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