For successful Deep Water Training (DWT) equipment is required to provide a balance between work and rest (since muscles fatigue more readily in deep water. WaterART recommends utilizing a buoyancy belt as the first piece of equipment since arms are free to balance and support movement. Maintaining balance and body position will help the lower body as well as maintain the head position (out of the water) to sustain exercise duration. If participants do not utilize a buoyancy device they often have to keep the legs moving during upper body training or overuse their arms via sculling for balance and to keep their head out of the water, Wearing the correct buoyancy to balance good body position and posture provides more benefits “quicker”.
Often the incorrect buoyancy belts fittings may slides up belt too far or inadvertently lean the body forward. To check buoyancy balance – exercisers should be able to hang in a “T” body position and maintain a vertical posture. Often over buoyant people will need even one block to keep their body in a good body position or to balance their buoyant buttocks. We advocate wearing mitts with the belt since the mitts add surface area to better balance the body and add more assistance for balance as well as resistance for upper body strengthening.
