Faíl Luís Brandão, Marinho Daniel Almeida, Marques Elisa A, Gonçalves Juliana Mendes, Gil Maria Helena, Pereira Rogério Alves, Marques Mário Cardoso, Izquierdo Mikel, Neiva Henrique Pereira
Department of Sport Sciences University of Beira Interior Covilhã Portugal.
Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development CIDESD Covilhã Portugal.
Health Sci Rep. 2024 Dec 24;7(12):e70223. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.70223. eCollection 2024 Dec.
The current study aimed to compare the effects of 12 weeks of moderate versus high-intensity water aerobics on muscle strength, body composition, lipid profile, blood pressure, and quality of life in both adults and older adults.
Twenty-one women (65.19 ± 9.37 years) were randomly allocated to moderate (MIG; = 11) or high-intensity groups (HIG; = 10). Both groups attended 45-min sessions twice a week for 12 weeks. Assessments at baseline and posttraining included muscle endurance, explosive strength, body mass, body mass index, fat mass, fat-free mass, triglycerides, total cholesterol, blood pressure, resting heart rate, general quality of life, and general health, and the physical, psychological, social relationships, and environmental domains of quality of life.
HIG experienced greater reductions in cholesterol ( = 0.28) and fat mass ( = 0.35), and an increase in fat-free mass ( = 0.35), compared to the MIG. The HIG also showed greater improvements in triglycerides ( = 0.24) and physical quality of life ( = 0.19) than MIG. No significant group × time interactions were found in the other variables. Nevertheless, muscular endurance and psychological quality of life were improved in both groups ( < 0.05, ES ≥ 0.57). The HIG was the only group to experience a reduction in diastolic blood pressure ( = 0.04, ES = -0.71), while the MIG showed no significant change. Explosive strength did not change in either group.
The study suggests that high-intensity water aerobics provide additional benefits over moderate intensity for body composition, blood lipids, diastolic blood pressure, and physical quality of life in adults and older adults. However, both intensities effectively improved muscular endurance and psychological quality of life. Future studies should include a larger number of participants and groups (e.g., control group), longer interventions, and controlled dietary intake. Nonetheless, the current results demonstrate that exercise intensity is an important variable for optimal water aerobics outcomes.
本研究旨在比较12周中等强度与高强度水中有氧运动对成年人和老年人肌肉力量、身体成分、血脂、血压及生活质量的影响。
21名女性（65.19±9.37岁）被随机分为中等强度组（MIG；n = 11）或高强度组（HIG；n = 10）。两组均每周参加两次45分钟的课程，共12周。基线和训练后的评估包括肌肉耐力、爆发力、体重、体重指数、脂肪量、去脂体重、甘油三酯、总胆固醇、血压、静息心率、总体生活质量和总体健康状况，以及生活质量的身体、心理、社会关系和环境领域。
与MIG相比，HIG的胆固醇（p = 0.28）和脂肪量（p = 0.35）下降幅度更大，去脂体重增加（p = 0.35）。HIG的甘油三酯（p = 0.24）和身体生活质量（p = 0.19）改善也比MIG更大。在其他变量中未发现显著的组×时间交互作用。然而，两组的肌肉耐力和心理生活质量均有所改善（p < 0.05，效应量≥0.57）。HIG是唯一舒张压降低的组（p = 0.04，效应量= -0.71），而MIG无显著变化。两组的爆发力均未改变。
该研究表明，对于成年人和老年人，高强度水中有氧运动在身体成分、血脂、舒张压和身体生活质量方面比中等强度运动有更多益处。然而，两种强度均有效改善了肌肉耐力和心理生活质量。未来的研究应纳入更多参与者和组（如对照组）、更长的干预时间以及控制饮食摄入。尽管如此，目前的结果表明运动强度是获得最佳水中有氧运动效果的一个重要变量。
