Dr. George L. Dixon - "Talking Fitness"

Exercise is sweaty? Not a bit. Cool off and workout too! You can burn calories and work aerobically as hard or harder than on land, while your target heart rate can be 10% less because of the cooling and the loss of gravity.

Water supports you so that you weigh only 1/2 when up to your waist and only 1/10 when you are neck deep. Talk about low impact!! Your joints are soothed, while your muscles are offered more than 12 times the resistance that air provides, and in every direction.

Water exercises are good for rehabilitating cardiac patients, pregnant women, overweight persons, injured athletes, older persons, osteoarthritic joints and aching backs. Remember, being less than full weight-bearing, there is little strengthening effect for osteoporotic bones.

Starting:1. Just hold the edge of the pool and kick. 2. Next, stand in water up to your chest, jump up and spread your arms and legs. 3. Swing your arms across your body. 4. Sit with your back against the edge with your arms out on the edge holding on. Keep your knees together and bring them to your chest, several times.

Even if you can walk on water, it is better to go in as deep as mid-thigh. Walk backward and forward a dozen steps. Stay on your feet, not on your tip-toes. Don't lean forward. Swing your arms. Deeper is harder, try it..

Deep water exercises can be best done with a buoyancy device such as an Aquajogger vest. Deep water running is aerobic, and utilized by many recovering injured runners.

Accessories for water work provide increased resistance; footwear, webbed gloves and paddles, weights, delta bars, and steps.

Remove chlorine with non-soap cleanser in shower, followed quickly and often with moisturizer.

Plunging Further In:

Aquatic Exercise Association, PO Box497, Fort Washington, WI 53074. They have a wonderful Newsletter-"AKWA". Free information packet.

The United States Water Fitness Association, PO Box 3279, Boynton Beach, FL 33424. (SASE)

Excel Sport Science (800)922-9544. Aquajogger, information, video.

More help is available in "Exercise a la Carte", here, at your bookstore or call 800-624-4952.