An aquajogger® is a piece of fitness equipment that can be used during water aerobics or with physical therapy performed in the water. It is a buoyant belt that, when secured around the torso, helps an individual to float while maintaining an upright position in shallow or deep water. By promoting buoyancy and posture, an aquajogger® helps individuals perform a variety of aerobic movements for a total body workout with little impact to the joints.
The belt was first used on physical therapy patients in recovery after injuries or surgery that required a slow, low-impact reintroduction to workouts. After an injury has left an individual unable to workout or, at times, even walk, physical rehabilitation is necessary to counteract muscle atrophy. The joints may be weak, however, making normal land exercise too painful.
Water aerobics became popular not only as a way to rehabilitate a patient after an injury, but also as a fun group exercise. Shallow pools are used in many water aerobics classes, but some individuals find that aerobics in deep water allows for more challenging moves. An aquajogger® flotation belt can be helpful for those in either shallow or deep water during exercise.
A flotation belt such as the aquajogger® may help in two ways. First, the wide belt straps onto a person’s torso, making an individual buoyant. This may make the task of muscle isolation during exercise easier. In other words, one can exercise the legs only while trying to keep the rest of the body stationary.
Using a flotation belt when in deep water is also an issue of safety. During exercise, one may become fatigued faster than he might notice. A cramp may suddenly cause great pain. An aquajogger® can help to keep a person afloat in place of treading water.
Secondly, the aquajogger® is meant to force a user into the correct body position for water aerobics. Without a belt, bodies often tend to bend forward, causing the back to hunch. Stress may then be placed on the lower back, potentially leading to an injury. Just like on land, aerobics in the water will benefit an individual best when performed with excellent form. Flotation belts help one to keep perfect posture.
The company that invented the aquajogger® belt now also makes other water aerobics and physical therapy accessories. Dumbbells made of buoyant foam do not need to be weighted when used in the water. Pulling the dumbbell through water creates enough resistance to adequately work the arm muscles.
