Beneficial effects of aquatic exercise were found on physical function .
Water-based exercises are recommended for people with osteoarthritis ( OA ) , due to the beneficial effects on physical function , quality of life and symptom reduction .
However , the effects on muscle strength are still controversial .
The aim of this review was to assess and compare the effects of aquatic exercise programs on muscle strength and physical function in people with OA .
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
Beneficial effects of aquatic exercise were found on physical function .
Water-based exercises are recommended for people with osteoarthritis ( OA ) , due to the beneficial effects on physical function , quality of life and symptom reduction .
However , the effects on muscle strength are still controversial .
The aim of this review was to assess and compare the effects of aquatic exercise programs on muscle strength and physical function in people with OA .