Biomechanical Alterations during Aquatic Treadmill Running

Background: Water running, and more specifically aquatic treadmill (ATM) running, has become increasingly popular as part of the rehabilitation of injuries and as a means of cross training. Purpose: The primary purpose of this narrative review was to discuss the kinematic, kinetic, spatiotemporal, and muscle activation differences between ATM and land treadmill running. A secondary purpose was to examine the possible benefits and limitations of applying an ATM running intervention as a means for returning to run or sport were discussed. Methods: A critical appraisal of the current literature revealed a series of studies related to ATM training and/or rehabilitation. Findings: Water provides a unique training and rehabilitation environment owing to the fluid forces acting upon the body during immersion. A growing body of evidence supports the safety and efficacy of ATM for both training and rehabilitation purposes. Current evidence indicates that ATM running does not result in differential biomechanical adaptations in comparison to land treadmill running. Conclusion: Considering the potential beneficial characteristics of water immersion and the increasing popularity of ATM running, a clearer understanding of the biomechanical alterations is warranted in order to aid practitioners in enhancing outcomes when prescribing ATM running. Key Words: Biomechanics; Running; Aquatic Treadmill; Rehabilitation; Water