Abstract des Autors

Injured athletes often seek alternative training modalities to counteract the decrease in physical fitness and other negative effects, due to the cessation of training. Water running is a training modality that recently obtained attention in literature. The aim of this article is to examine the effects of water running described in literature on cardiovascular fitness, strength and mobility. Water running offers a possibility to maintain and even increase the cardiovascular fitness. Subjective better functional scores and less pain after completing several weeks of water running are factors that stress the usefulness of such training. The literature regarding the effect on strength and mobility does not allow an obvious conclusion and is often contradictory. The absence of proprioception and altered biomechanics in comparison with running on land should be considered as potential draw-backs. We conclude that water running is an alternative training modality for injured athletes that should be encouraged. Verf.-Referat