Physiologic and Kinematical Effects of Water Run Training on Running Performance

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether trained competitive runners could maintain running kinematics, cardiorespiratory performance (VO2peak, ventilatory threshold, running economy) and on-land running performance by replacing 30% of conventional training with water run training during 8 weeks. Eighteen runners were divided in two groups: on-land run (OLR Group) and deep water run (DWR Group). The DWR Group replaced 30% of training volume on land with DWR, and the OLR group trained only on land (both groups undertaken workouts 6–7 d.wk−1 for a total of 52 sessions). No significant intra- or intergroup differences were observed for VO2peak in the DWR Group and OLR Group. Similarly, ventilatory threshold second was unaltered in the DWR Group and OLR Group. Regarding running economy (at 14 km.h−1) also, no intra- or intergroup differences were found in the DWR Group (pre = 43.4 ± 5.0, post = 42.6 ± 3.85 ml.kg−1.min−1) and OLR Group (pre = 43.9 ± 2.5, post = 42.6 ± 2.6 ml.kg−1.min−1). Kinematic responses were similar within and between groups. Water running may serve as an effective complementary training over a period of 8 weeks up to 30% of land training volume for competitive runners. The lower limb injuries are extremely common in runners. Several epidemiological studies estimate that 24–65% of competitive runners present injuries due to overuse, during one year (Hoeberigs, 1992; Van Mechelen, 1992). With this high incidence of lower limb injuries incurred by runners, it seems prudent to pursue training techniques to relieve some running-related trauma but without compromising aerobic conditioning and movement pattern. In particular, a replacement is interesting if it can be made without affecting land running performance. The deep water running (DWR) is a popular mode of rehabilitation for athletes, mainly in competitive runners with overuse injuries in lowers limbs. In fact, the DWR have shown to be satisfactory as a rehabilitation program (Assis et al., 2006; Frangolias, Taunton, Rhodes, McConkey, & Moon, 1997; Thein & Brody, 1997). Many mechanisms of DWR benefits can be attributed to the hydrostatic