Relationship of Heart Rate and Oxygen Uptake Kinetics during Deep Water Running in the Adult Population—Ages 50 to 70 Years

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between heart rate (HR) as a percentage of peak HR and oxygen uptake (V̇O2) as a percentage of peak V̇O2 in older adults while performing deep water running (DWR). Twenty-three (14 male and 9 female) apparently healthy older adults, age 50 to 70 years, volunteered. Deep water running to V̇O2peak was performed in 3-min stages at leg speeds controlled by a metronome beginning at 60 strides per minute and increasing 12 strides per minute each additional stage. Oxygen uptake and HR were continuously monitored by open-circuit spirometry and radiotelemetry, respectively. Simple linear regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between the physiological variables. The relationship between %V̇O2peak and %HRpeak was statistically significant, with the male (%V̇O2peak = 1.5301 [%HRpeak] − 54.4932 [r = .96, SEE = 6.0%]) and female (%V̇O2peak = 1.5904 [%HRpeak] - 62.3935 [r = .91, SEE = 6.9%]) regression equations being significantly different (p < .05). The regression equations of older adults and those for college-aged males (%VO2peak = 1.4634 [%HRpeak] − 49.619) and females (%V̇O2peak = 1.6649 [%HRpeak] − 67.862) were not significantly different.

Maximal Physiological Responses between Aquatic and Land Exercise in Overweight Women

“…The result of the present study is comparable with that between young men and women, indicating that in this sample of middle-aged, overweight women, cardiovascular responses are similar to other populations during maximal DWR and TMW. Factors such as the exertional force required to overcome viscosity friction of the water medium, differences in DWR technique, and different muscle-activation patterns contribute to the reduction in relative V O 2 during DWR (5,25). The buoyancy factor associated with exercise undertaken in the water may also contribute to a decreased ability to perform maximal exercise in the water compared with on land.…”

Different methods for monitoring intensity during water-based aerobic exercises

“…The ACSM equation was chosen because it is the most utilized to estimate _ VO 2 from HR data (even if it refers to land exercise); the Brown et al (1998) equation was obtained for deep water running (a different movement type compared to the exercises involved in this study and at a different water level), but, to our knowledge, it is the only equation reported in the literature for ''water-based aerobic activities''.…”

“…Since heart rate and oxygen consumption are linearly related (and since some HR measuring systems are waterproof), recordings of HR can be used to estimate oxygen consumption. In this paper, two well-known group _ VO 2 versus HR equations have been utilized: the first (which refers to land exercise) was proposed by ACSM (1998) and is largely utilized to estimate _ VO 2 from HR data; the second was proposed by Brown et al (1998) and was determined during deep water running. Even if this equation was obtained during a different movement type (water running vs. WA) and at a different water level, (deep vs. chest level) to our knowledge, this is the only equation reported in the literature that refers to water-based aerobic exercises.…”

“…As far as data of HR are regarded, we ''estimated oxygen consumption'' using different _ VO 2 versus HR regression equation models previously studied on land (ACSM 1998) and in water (Brown et al 1998) as well as using the _ VO 2 versus HR relationship experimentally assessed in our study (12 subjects, 5 WE at 3 frequencies, n = 180):…”