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The effects of water-based strength exercise on quality of life in young women

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Abstract

Background

Exercise improves quality of life (QoL). However, little is known concerning the effects of different volumes of strength exercise on QoL. The aims of this study are to: (1) evaluate the effects of water-based strength exercise on QoL of healthy young women and (2) compare the effects of different volumes of water-based strength exercises on QoL of healthy young women.

Methods

Sixty-six participants were randomly allocated into four groups with different volumes of exercise. The participants performed water-based strength exercises for 20 weeks, two times a week, supervised by trained physiologists.

Results

A significant improvement was found in overall QoL (F = 5.96; p = 0.018) and in physical (F = 22.01; p < 0.001), psychological (F = 8.408; p = 0.006) and environment domains (F = 8.34; p = 0.006). In addition, a significant decrease of depressive symptoms was found (F = 22.32; p < 0.001). No difference was found between groups in any domain of QoL or depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Water-based strength exercise improves specific domains of QoL and decreases depressive symptoms of young healthy women. Different volumes of exercise promote similar effects on QoL and depressive symptoms.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thanks to Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and to Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise Research Laboratory, Physical Education School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Room 208, 750th, Felizardo Street, 90690-200, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Felipe Barreto Schuch, Maira Cristina Wolf Schoenell, Carlos Leandro Tiggemann, Matias Noll & Luiz Fernando Martins Kruel

  2. Clinics Hospital of Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Felipe Barreto Schuch

  3. Physical Education School, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil

    Cristine Lima Alberton

Authors
  1. Felipe Barreto Schuch
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  2. Maira Cristina Wolf Schoenell
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  3. Carlos Leandro Tiggemann
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  4. Matias Noll
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  5. Cristine Lima Alberton
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  6. Luiz Fernando Martins Kruel
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Correspondence to Felipe Barreto Schuch.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest relating to the publication of this manuscript.

Ethical approval

All subjects provided written informed consent and all procedures were approved by the institutional ethic review board.

Informed consent

Informed consent in writing was obtained from each subject enrolled in the study.

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Schuch, F.B., Schoenell, M.C.W., Tiggemann, C.L. et al. The effects of water-based strength exercise on quality of life in young women. Sport Sci Health 12, 105–112 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-016-0261-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-016-0261-5

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