Aquatic Exercise Great for LAP-BAND Patients

Thursday, 03 June 2010 07:50

For LAP-BAND patients and others looking for a fun, low-impact workout, taking aquatic exercises classes or doing the exercises alone in a pool can be a great solution. Along with providing an aerobic cardio workout, aquatic exercise may also ease the symptoms of arthritis and joint pain while increasing muscle relaxation and blood circulation.

Eases Joint Pain

Because many obese patients suffer from arthritis and joint pain due to the excess weight, aquatic exercise may ease some of these symptoms due to the buoyancy of the water, which simulates a feeling of no gravity. According to an expert mentioned in an article from the North County Times in Escondido, CA, "The warm buoyancy of the water makes it a perfect environment for relieving arthritis pain and stiffness and improving range of motion for joints." The Arthritis Foundation recommends that arthritis sufferers do low-impact exercise like aquatic classes at least 2 times per week, with the ideal being 4-5 times per week.

Resistance Training

The natural resistance of the water may help increase muscle tone, as the water is working against a LAP-BAND patient's movement in the water. This resistance is also what helps increase the heart rate in order to consider aquatic exercise an aquatic activity.

Enhances muscle relaxation and blood circulation

Warm water in pools used for aquatic exercise help relax the muscles, leading to a greater range of motion and more stamina. In addition, it also may help increase blood circulation, which is great for patients undergoing physical therapy for an injury or exercises who live a mostly sedentary lifestyle. The warm water may also decrease swelling and help patients stretching exercises that they may not be able to on land.

Accelerated Weight Loss

A study published by the American College of Sports Medicine (link to http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/708917) states that overweight and obese patients saw a greater decrease in their body weight and overall body fat percentage when they completed aquatic exercises three times per week. compared to the control group, who did no exercise.

Many aquatic exercises are offered at gyms, community centers, and even colleges and universities for a monthly or per-class rate.