Deep Water Running Training and Road Running Training Improve Vo2max 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 VO2max of untrained women. The subjects were 10 untrained women volunteers who were randomly assigned to either the DWR or RR training programs after first undertaking a pretest VO2max. All subjects participated in DWR and RR training programs consisting of a 4-week, 3-day-a-week, progressive aerobic interval program. After training in either medium, subjects were again tested for VO2max and then each undertook a 10-week detraining program. Subjects were again tested for VO2max and then undertook the opposite program. At the end of the final 4-week program, subjects again underwent a VO2max test. Subjects were relatively unfit, with a pretraining VO2max of 34.1 +/- 2.1 ml x kg-l x min-1. 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 VO2max when compared to resting levels. A comparison of all post-DWR data revealed a VO2max value of 42.5 +/- 1.5 ml x kg-1 x min-1, while post-RR there was a VO2max value of 42.9 +/- 1.5 ml x kg-l x min-1, and therefore, no significant difference between DWR and RR training programs, in their ability to improve VO2max. Thus, both deep water running and road running training improved cardiovascular fitness of young, sedentary women.