Hydrofitness devices for strengthening upper extremity muscles.

Our evaluation of hydrofitness devices for strengthening arm muscles has revealed several important determinants of their performance. Most importantly, the device's frontal projection should be in the shape of a paddle whose surface area can be varied to meet the individual exerciser's needs. Its weight should be light to minimize the inertial forces encountered in charging the velocity of paddle movement. Its handle should have a relatively large circumference without digital profiling. These optimal performance parameters have been recently incorporated into a new hydrofitness device that will be commercially available for aquatic exercise programs for strengthening upper extremity muscles.