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Deep Water Running after Injury

Lori Sherlock, MS, ATRIC, AEA Fitness Specialist, CSCS

November 6, 2012

Question

After injury, with early weightbearing in the pool, how cautious do we need to be with deep water running?

Answer

If you have a patient participate in deep water running, which is non-weightbearing, the only thing that you really need to be cautious about is controlling the movement.  Aside from that, you can really look at any intensity you want because you are completely offloading the joints.  There will be a force applied across the water surface, but it's not enough to compromise the injured joints or to alter weightbearing status.  So my answer to you is that there really are no limitations as long as you are in deep water.  You do, however, need to make sure that their form is spot on, because a lot of people will get a little out of control due to the freedom that they have because of that buoyancy force.  


lori sherlock

Lori Sherlock, MS, ATRIC, AEA Fitness Specialist, CSCS

Lori A. Sherlock is an assistant professor in the School of Medicine at West Virginia University.  She coordinates and teaches the aquatic therapy curriculum within the division of Exercise Physiology and is proud to state that it is the only one like it in the nation.  Lori is an Aquatic Exercise Association trainer and a member of the Aquatic Exercise Association’s Research Committee.  She contributes often to the AKWA magazine and has a great interest in furthering the field of aquatics through research.  Lori has also presented for the APTA, NSCA, International Aquatic Fitness Conference as well as the World Aquatic Health Conference.


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