Is aqua exercise just therapeutic rehabilitation or proper fitness training?
In the past
There is no clear-cut answer to that question and water has so many therapeutic and healing properties that even the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans sang its praises. For example, it is a well-known fact that Roman baths were not just designed for therapeutic purposes and well-being. Exercising in the water was first invented for motor rehabilitation and involved performing physical exercises with your body partly submerged in the water. These exercises are aimed at improving muscle tone, joint flexibility and balance, as well as re-mastering certain ordinary or sports-related movements.
Why in the water?
It is worth remembering that the weaker force of gravity makes movements smoother and less stressful for your joints. Water also creates greater resistance to motion, because it is denser than air, and hydrostatic pressure allows you to improve your balance and posture. There are plenty of cases of people who go to swimming pools for rehabilitation after an accident, operation or perhaps just on their doctor’s advice. So after initially being a place for motor rehabilitation or swimming, the pool has now become popular for aqua fitness that is gradually…
