Deep Water Running Training and Road Running Training Improve V̇O2max in Untrained Women

The primary purpose of this investigation was to compare the effects of deep water running (DWR) training and road running (RR) training on the V̇O2max of untrained women. The subjects were 10 untrained women volunteers who were randomly assigned to either the DWR or RR training pro-grams after first undertaking a pretest V̇O2max. All subjects participated in DWR and RR training programs consisting of a 4-week, 3-day-a-week, progressive aerobic interval pro-gram. After training in either medium, subjects were again tested for V̇O2max and then each undertook a 10-week de-training program. Subjects were again tested for V̇O2max and then undertook the opposite program. At the end of the final 4-week program, subjects again underwent a V̇O2max test. Subjects were relatively unfit, with a pretraining V̇O2max of 34.1 6 2.1 ml·kg21·min21. When a comparison of the 2 training methods was carried out, the difference was significant, while post hoc analyses indicated both the DWR and RR training significantly (p, 0.001) increased V̇O2max when compared to resting levels. A comparison of all post-DWR data revealed a V̇O2max value of 42.5 6 1.5 ml·kg21·min21, while post-RR there was a V̇O2max value of 42.9 6 1.5 ml·kg21·min21, and therefore, no significant dif-ference between DWR and RR training programs, in their ability to improve V̇O2max. Thus, both deep water running and road running training improved cardiovascular fitness of young, sedentary women