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 .
Water-based exercise improves health-related aspects of fitness in older women.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the physiological responses of elderly women to a well-rounded exercise program performed in water ( WEX ) . METHODS The participants ( 60 - 75 yr of age ) were r and omly divided into a training ( TR ) group ( N = 15 ) and a control group ( N = 15 ) . The TR group participated in a 12-wk supervised WEX program , 70 min x day(-1 ) , 3 d x wk(-1 ) . The WEX consisted of 20 min of warm-up and stretching exercise , 10 min of resistance exercise , 30 min of endurance-type exercise ( walking and dancing ) , and 10 min of cool-down exercise . RESULTS The WEX led to an increase ( P < 0.05 ) in peak VO2 ( 12 % ) and VO2 at lactate threshold ( 20 % ) . Muscular strength evaluated by a hydraulic resistance machine increased significantly at resistance dial setting 8 ( slow ) for knee extension ( 8 % ) , knee flexion ( 13 % ) , chest press ( 7 % ) and pull ( 11 % ) , shoulder press ( 4 % ) and pull ( 6 % ) , and back extension ( 6 % ) . Vertical jump ( 9 % ) , side-stepping agility ( 22 % ) , trunk extension ( 11 % ) , and FEV1.0 ( 7 % ) also increased significantly . There was a significant decrease in skin-fold thickness ( -8 % ) , low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol ( -17 % ) , and total cholesterol ( -11 % ) . There were no significant changes in these variables in the control group . CONCLUSION These results indicate that WEX elicits significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness , muscular strength , body fat , and total cholesterol in older adult women .  Water-based exercise appears to be a very safe and beneficial mode of exercise that can be performed as part of a well-rounded exercise program
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 .