Journal of Applied Sports Sciences (Jul 2017)
PHYSICAL THERAPY AND SWIMMING INFLUENCE ON FEMALE TYPE OF ADIPOSE DEPOSITION AND CELLULITE
Abstract
Cellulite is a very common problem with women of all ages, and many of them try to solve it using various methods. To evaluate the effect of swimming and physiotherapy on subcutaneous fat in overweight women with female type of adipose deposition. The research was done among 38 women aged between 22 and 48 years, with gynoid accumulation of fat and cellulite II, III-A and III-B classes. For one month, a com-plex of fifteen procedures was applied every other day. The procedures included a combination of the following methods: free style intermittent swimming for 20 min in a pool, a vacuum massage - 30 min, a lymphatic press massage - 20 min, a manual massage with anti-cellulite creams - 20 min. The combination of exercises for the muscles of the abdominal wall, hip muscles and thighs had to be performed at home daily. Five circumferences and ten skin folds were measured before and after the treatment. We found out that a total of ten skin folds was an integral indicator of the nutritional obesity degree and level of subcutaneous fat. At the end of the study, subcutaneous fat was reduced from 222.4 mm to 209.9 mm (10.34%). The reduction of the skin folds, typical for gynoid type deposition of fat and cellulites, was the most pronounced in the following zones: a fold over anterior superior iliac spine, a fold over the patella, a fold in the popliteal fossa and a fold on the medial side of the cruris. The results of the complex therapeutic approach revealed a reduction in the examined indicators within the first month. It is suitable to apply swimming and physiotherapy in the comprehensive treatment of cellulite with women who have female type of adipose deposition.
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