Effects of Water Depth on Heart Rate, Rate of Perceived Exertion, and Gait During Underwater Treadmill Walking in Healthy Older Adults

Authors

• Edgar Gonzalez
• Hayley Moore
• Sage Robertson
• Riley Tucker

Files

Description

Some of the aging population do not meet the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines for physical activity. This is due to numerous barriers: pain, fear of injury, and limitation with mobility. Underwater treadmill (UWT) training, a specific type of aquatic exercise, supports cardiovascular and muscular health while providing low impact on the joints. Underwater treadmill allows the exercise intensity to be manipulated through the depth and the speed. However, the effects of varying immersion heights on heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and stride frequency (SF) in a healthy older adult population remain unclear. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the impact of different water heights on these three variables. We hypothesized that increased water heights will increase HR, RPE, and SF.

Advisor

Ryan Conners

College

College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences

Department

Kinesiology

Publication Date

5-2026

Disciplines

Sports Sciences

Recommended Citation

Gonzalez, Edgar; Moore, Hayley; Robertson, Sage; and Tucker, Riley, "Effects of Water Depth on Heart Rate, Rate of Perceived Exertion, and Gait During Underwater Treadmill Walking in Healthy Older Adults" (2026). Undergraduate Posters. 1.
https://louis.uah.edu/kinesiology-posters/1