INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF WATER EXERCISES ON BODY

Selin YILDIRIM, Esra TÜRKER, Zoran HANDZISKI, Eli HANDZISKA, Metin DALIP, Mesut CERIT

Abstract

Water exercises provide numerous benefits such as reducing the risk of most chronic diseases, increasing joint range of motion, decreasing body fat, and developing physical fitness and muscular strength. The present study aims to investigate the effects of water exercise programs on body composition, vital signs, and blood glucose levels. In the study, a pretest-posttest comparative analytical model was used. The data were collected through participant forms and measurement instruments. 40 university students aged 20.02±1.09 years participated in the study. The volunteers participating in the study were included in the research program for 10 weeks. The averages of all test values were compared using the independent samples t-test analysis method and the statistical significance level was set as p<0.05. Statistically significant differences were observed in the pulse and saturation values of the participants (p<0.05), but no significant difference was found between the pretest and posttest glucose values (p=0.275). Additionally, statistically significant differences were found in the participants' body weight, muscle mass, fat percentage, waist circumference, trunk and both legs (p<0.05). It is thought that the interactions produced by water exercises on body composition and blood glucose values may exhibit significant changes with advancing age due to differences arising from physical activity level, gender, and lifestyle, and that the findings obtained as a result of conducting such studies particularly in homogeneous groups (gender, activity level and age) or in periods when the growth process is evident may yield more decisive findings.

Pages: 214 - 222