Anita Pino-Reynals; Omar Espinoza-Navarro; Miguel De Arruda & Carlos Urizar-Araya

Summary

Aquatic activities are a clear alternative to programs of terrestrial muscle strengthening. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aquatic-aerobics exercises on folds and body diameters and improving muscle strength in young women. Twelve women between 16­18 years old, sedentary, intentionally selected were subjected to an aquatic-aerobics exercises program of 18 sessions, developed at the Olympic Swimming Pool in Arica-Chile. The results show that young women have an overweight BMI, with a predominantly endomorph somatotype. The body folds of anterior thigh and calf decreased significantly at the end of program implementation, similar behavior expressed in the sum of these (7: of 167.06±8.71 mm to 145.23±8.9 mm in pretest). Muscle strength was significantly increased in the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi and brachial biceps muscles. However, this increase is more significant (p<0.001) in the sum of muscles evaluated (?7: of 137.72±5.27 kg to 158.67±6.48 kg after the program). It is concluded that aquatic-aerobics exercise programs applied to young women, have a positive effect, with significant increases in muscle strength and a significant decrease in skin folds. The implementation of these programs provides multiple benefits for health and improved quality of life.

KEY WORDS: Aquatic exercise; Muscle strength; Swimming; Chile.

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