AE may improve physical functioning in healthy older people and is at least as effective as LE
BACKGROUND ageing and sedentary behaviour cause negative changes in the neuromuscular systems of healthy older adults result ing in a decrease in physical functioning .
Exercising in water ( aquatic exercise , AE ) has been shown to be effective at improving physical functioning in this population ; however , no systematic review with meta- analysis has been published .
High-intensity aquatic exercises (HydrOS) improve physical function and reduce falls among postmenopausal women
Objective This study aims to investigate the effects of an aquatic exercise program ( HydrOS ) on neuromuscular function and falls among postmenopausal women . Methods One hundred eight postmenopausal women ( mean [ SD ] age , 58.8 [ 6.4 ] y ) were r and omly divided into the  control group ( CG ; n = 44 ) and the  aquatic exercise group  ( AEG ; n = 64 ) . Both groups received elementary calcium 500 mg/day and cholecalciferol 1,000 IU/day . For 24 weeks , the AEG participated in the aquatic exercise program , whereas the CG remained sedentary . The following variables were measured before and after the program : number of falls and fallers ( 7 mo before and after the intervention ) ; flexibility , using Wells ’ Sit- and -Reach Test ( FLEX ) ; static balance , using the Unipedal Stance Test ( UST ) ; mobility , using the Timed-Up- and -Go test ( TUG ) ; h and grip strength of the dominant h and ( HGS ) ; and maximal isometric strength of back extensor muscles ( SBE ) , strength of hip flexor muscles ( SHF ) , and strength of knee extensor muscles ( SKE ) . The muscle strength tests were considered the primary outcome , whereas the other neuromuscular tests , together with falls , were considered secondary outcomes . Results were significant when P ⩽ 0.05 . Results Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D significantly increased by 21 % in the CG and by 23 % in the AEG ( P < 0.001 ) . The number of falls and fallers after the program remained unchanged in the CG ; in the AEG , the mean number of falls decreased from 2.00 to 0.29 ( P < 0.0001 ) , and the number of fallers decreased by 44 % ( P < 0.0001 ) . All neuromuscular variables significantly improved in the AEG : FLEX ( 26.6 % ; P < 0.0001 ) , UST ( 14.1 % ; P < 0.001 ) , TUG ( 23.7 % ; P < 0.001 ) , HGS ( 13.4 % ; P < 0.001 ) , SBE ( 26.2 % ; P < 0.001 ) , SHF ( 18.5 % ; P = 0.039 ) , and SKE ( 7.7 % ; P < 0.001 ) . In the CG , significant improvements in FLEX ( 12.2 % ; P = 0.009 ) , UST ( 4.5 % ; P < 0.001 ) , TUG ( 10 % ; P < 0.001 ) , and SHF ( 5.7 % ; P = 0.039 ) were observed and could be explained by increasing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level attributable to supplementation . Conclusions The aquatic exercise program HydrOS is a safe and efficient way to improve physical function and to reduce falls among postmenopausal women
AE may improve physical functioning in healthy older people and is at least as effective as LE
BACKGROUND ageing and sedentary behaviour cause negative changes in the neuromuscular systems of healthy older adults result ing in a decrease in physical functioning .
Exercising in water ( aquatic exercise , AE ) has been shown to be effective at improving physical functioning in this population ; however , no systematic review with meta- analysis has been published .