Aquatic physical exercise programs for the prevention of falls in the elderly. A bibliographic review

Abstract

Background: The physiological changes of ageing increase the risk of falls by up to 10 times in people over 65. Aquatic exercise programmes could be an alternative to land-based exercise programmes, minimising this risk. Few studies have evaluated the effect of aquatic exercise on balance in the elderly. There is a need to study whether physical exercise programmes in the aquatic environment could reduce the risk of falls.

Objectives: To analyse the scientific literature on studies carried out in the aquatic environment and to verify the efficacy in the improvement of parameters related to balance and functionality, and therefore, the reduced risk of falls in the elderly, through the practice of exercises.

Method: 18 articles published in scientific journals were analysed, searched in the databases PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Social Abstracts under the topics of "elderly" AND "aquatic exercise". These works passed the selection filter, which consisted of eliminating duplicates, the existence of both topics in the title, only elderly people participated and covered the objective of this study, and whose year of publication exceeded 2008.

The study population was engaged in physical activity in the aquatic environment, whose age was >65 years. Single-group studies were taken into account, but also those that formalised two groups, as well as those studies that statistically demonstrated, using the computer programme (SPSS), the positive influence of training in the aquatic environment on the improvement of balance or functionality.

Results: Exercise in the aquatic environment provides benefits in muscular strength, increased cognitive capacity, increased flexibility, improved flexibility and balance, and may reduce the risk of falls in its practitioners.

Conclusions: Balance work in the aquatic environment reduces the risk of falls.

Keywords: elderly, training, aquatic environment, stability, water, comparison, falls and exercise.