However , aquatic exercise improved key predisposing physical fitness components that are modifiable and internal risk factors for falling .
Conclusions There is limited , low- quality evidence to support the use of aquatic exercise for improving physiological components that are risk factors for falling .
Background According to the World Health Organization , the elderly are at the highest risk of injury or death from a fall .
Age-related changes in strength , balance and flexibility are degenerative factors that may increase the risk of falling , and an aquatic training may offer a favourable environment to improve these modifiable risk factors .
Methods A systematic review was conducted to assess the potential preventative role of aquatic exercise for reducing the risk of falls in the elderly by improving predisposing risk factors .
THE EFFECTS OF A TWENTY‐FOUR‐‐WEEK AQUATIC TRAINING PROGRAM ON MUSCULAR STRENGTH PERFORMANCE IN HEALTHY ELDERLY WOMEN
The purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of a 24-week aquatic training ( AT ) program , which included both aerobic and resistance components , on muscle strength ( isometric and dynamic ) , flexibility , and functional mobility in healthy women over 60 years of age . Twenty-two subjects were assigned r and omly to either an  AT ( n = 12 ) or a  control ( C , n = 10 ) group . Volunteers participated in a supervised shallow-water exercise program for 60 minutes a day , 3 days a week ; the exercise program consisted of a 10-minute warm-up and stretching , 25 minutes of endurance-type exercise ( dancing ) at 80 % of heart rate (HR)max , 20 minutes of upper- and lower-body resistance exercises with specialized water-resistance equipment , and a 5-minute cool down .  Maximal isometric torque of knee extensors ( KEXT ) and knee flexors ( KFLEX ) were evaluated by a Cybex Norm dynamometer , grip strength ( HGR ) was evaluated using a Jamar hydraulic dynamometer , and dynamic strength was evaluated via the 3 repetition maximum ( 3RM ) test for chest press , knee extension , lat pull down , and leg press . Jumping performance was evaluated using the squat jump ( SJ ) , functional mobility with the timed up- and -go ( TUG ) test , and trunk flexion with the sit- and -reach test . Body composition was measured using the bioelectrical impedance method . The AT induced significant improvements in KEXT ( 10.5 % ) and KFLEX ( 13.4 % ) peak torque , HGR strength ( 13 % ) , 3RM ( 25.7–29.4 % ) , SJ ( 24.6 % ) , sit- and -reach ( 11.6 % ) , and TUG ( 19.8 % ) performance . The AT group demonstrated a significant increase in lean body mass ( 3.4 % ) . No significant changes in these variables were observed in the C group . The results indicate that AT , with both aerobic and resistance components , is an alternative training method for improving neuromuscular and functional fitness performance in healthy elderly women
However , aquatic exercise improved key predisposing physical fitness components that are modifiable and internal risk factors for falling .
Conclusions There is limited , low- quality evidence to support the use of aquatic exercise for improving physiological components that are risk factors for falling .
Background According to the World Health Organization , the elderly are at the highest risk of injury or death from a fall .
Age-related changes in strength , balance and flexibility are degenerative factors that may increase the risk of falling , and an aquatic training may offer a favourable environment to improve these modifiable risk factors .
Methods A systematic review was conducted to assess the potential preventative role of aquatic exercise for reducing the risk of falls in the elderly by improving predisposing risk factors .