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 .
A water-based training program that includes perturbation exercises improves speed of voluntary stepping in older adults: a randomized controlled cross-over trial.
This study evaluated the effects of a water exercise training program that includes perturbation exercises ( WEP ) to improve the speed of voluntary stepping reaction in older adults .  Speed of voluntary stepping considered as an important skill to prevent a fall when balance is lost . In a single-blinded r and omized controlled trial with a crossover design thirty-six independent old adults ( 64 - 88 years old ) were divided into two groups . Group A received WEP for the first 12 weeks , followed by no intervention for the second 12 weeks . Group B did not receive intervention for the first 12 weeks and received WEP for the second 12 weeks . Voluntary Step Execution Test and postural stability in upright st and ing ( eyes open and closed conditions ) were measured at baseline , 12 weeks , and 24 weeks . A significant interaction effect between group and time was found for the step execution , due to improvement in initiation phase and swing phase duration s in the WEP group . Also significant improvement in postural stability parameters in eyes open and closed conditions is noted . The present results indicate that the primary benefit of WEP that include perturbations to induce stepping , was a reduction in voluntary stepping times . The WEP generalized to a better control of balance in up-right st and ing
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 .