What Muscles Do You Work in Aqua Gym, Water Aerobics, or Aqua Fitness? Which Body Parts Get the Most Benefit?

Water aerobics for fitness and strength building

What muscles are we training when doing aqua fitness?

Depending on the sport you practice, certain areas of the body will be called upon more than others, but what about when you do aqua gym? Will aqua gym help you tone and refine your figure? Below you’ll find a list of muscles and muscle groups strengthened and sculpted with aqua gym!

Upper limbs (shoulders, arms and forearms)

Aqua gym requires very little effort from the upper limbs.

Trunk and pelvis (Chest, stomach and back)

• Abdominals: These are made up of several layers of muscle (rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, transverse) whose function is to flex and rotate the trunk.
• Back muscles: The back groups together muscles such as the trapezius, the dorsalis major, the rhomboids, the infraspinatus and the round muscle. These muscles play a wide variety of roles. From the dorsal to the lumbar, they ensure arm and shoulder mobility, postural support and protection of the spine.

Lower limbs (glutes, thighs and calves)

• Quadriceps: Located at the front of the thigh, the quadriceps is made up of 4 muscles (vastus femoris or rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius). These muscles facilitate flexion of the thigh over the hip, as well as extension of the leg over the thigh.
• Hamstring muscles: Located on the back of the thigh, there are four hamstring muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semitendinosus). They ensure leg flexion and thigh extension.
• Calf muscles: also known as the sural triceps, the calf muscles comprise 3 muscle fascicles, including the soleus and gastrocnemius. These muscles help extend the foot down the leg

Aqua gym is a gentle, all-round physical activity that works the whole body. If you’re looking for a gentle way to build muscle and refine your figure, this is the sport for you. Thanks to the resistance of the water, it effectively tones several muscle groups, avoiding joint problems and shocks. Shoulders, arms, abdominals, buttocks and thighs all benefit. The whole body is toned harmoniously, so there’s no imbalance.