The purpose of the study was to correlate the oxygen consumption (VO2) and the percentage of maximal VO2 (%VO2max) with the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and to compare these variable between water aerobic exercises performed in aquatic environment at different rhythms. Six women performed four test sessions, one on dry land environment (maximal effort test) and three in aquatic environment, each one with the performance of a water aerobic exercise: stationary running, jumping jacks and frontal kick up to 45°. Each aquatic exercise was performed at three rhythms of execution, 80, 100 and 120 bpm, during 6 min (interval of 30 min). For all variables, no significant differences were observed between three exercises, however, significant differences were found between rhythms of execution for all of them, indicating that with the increase of the rhythm, the effort to perform the exercises was intensified. Significant correlations were observed between VO2 and RPE, and between %VO2max and RPE. Therefore, based on this association it is suggested that the prescription of intensity of the exercises analyzed can be done by RPE during water aerobics classes.
Oxygen consumption; Exercise; Immersion
