The aims of this study were to determine the exercise intensity of basic aquabics exercises and to examine the determinants of exercise intensity from physical characteristics such as body size and physical fitness. Thirty-eight young men (11 sedentary, 15 endurance-trained, and 12 resistance-trained men) were participated in the study. They performed 4 basic aquabics exercises in a swimming pool, which the water depth was at the level of xiphoid process, for 5 minutes each and oxygen uptake were measured by Douglas bags. The highest exercise was in Kicking (61.7±15.0%VO₂max), followed by Scissors (49.4±13.7%VO₂max), Jumping (32.4±8.4%VO₂max), and Rocking (30.9±9.8%VO₂max). Body surface area was independently related to exercise intensity of Rocking and cardiorespiratory fitness was independently related to the other 3 basic exercises. This study suggests that body size and cardiorespiratory fitness should be considered to determine the exercise intensity of aquabics for constructing aquabics exercise program.

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