title: Loading forces in shallow water running in two levels of immersion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the vertical and anteroposterior components of the ground reaction force during shallow water running at 2 levels of immersion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two healthy adults with no gait disorders, who were familiar with aquatic exercises.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects performed 6 trials of water running at a self-selected speed in chest and hip immersion. Force data were collected through an underwater force plate and running speed was measured with a photocell timing light system. Analysis of covariance was used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vertical forces corresponded to 0.80 and 0.98 times the subject's body weight at the chest and hip level, respectively. Anteroposterior forces corresponded to 0.26 and 0.31 times the subject's body weight at the chest and hip level, respectively. As the water level decreased the subjects ran faster. No significant differences were found for the force values between the immersions, probably due to variability in speed, which was self-selected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When thinking about load values in water running professionals should consider not only the immersion level, but also the speed, as it can affect the force components, mainly the anteroposterior one. Quantitative data on this subject could help professionals to conduct safer aqua-tic rehabilitation and physical conditioning protocols.
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Biomechanics Research Laboratory, Department of Health and Sports Sciences, Santa Catarina State University, Florianópolis, Brazil. dedsnet@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haupenthal
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruschel
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hubert
authors.forename: Heiliane
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Brito Fontana
authors.forename: Helio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roesler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water