Treadmill Training on the Plasma Biochemical Parameters of Show Jumpers

Aqua treadmill is mainly used for rehabilitation purposes, but research indicates that this equipment could be used for training as well. Th e few studies performed with aqua treadmill mainly followed lactate and heart rate changes. Th erefore, the aim of this study was to test the eff ect of high water treadmill training on several blood parameters and on the correlations between them. Eight similarly trained Standardbred show jumper horse competing at the same level were selected with age between 6 to 11 years. Th e horses were subjected to a one week standardized exercise test which included normal training, training with show jumping and aqua treadmill training. Th e aqua treadmill training consisted of a 10 min walk (fi lling up, 4.5 km/h), 30 min trot (13 km/h) and 4 min walk (emptying, 4.5 km/h). Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein before aqua training, at the completion of each work bout, aft er drying and aft er one and two hour rest. Blood plasma were separated and lactate, LDH, CK, AST, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, total-bilirubin and cortisol level were determined. In conclusion plasma lactate response itself does not refl ect correctly the intensity of workload in high water level aqua training, therefore measurement of several blood parameters is advisable. Further studies needed to understand the relationship of metabolic processes altered due to the eff ect of partial water submersion.