Effectiveness of aquatic and non-aquatic lower limb muscle endurance training in the static and dynamic balance of elderly people.
BACKGROUND
Aging compromises the ability of the central nervous system to maintain body balance and reduces the capacity for adaptive reactions. To prevent falls, the reception conditions for sensory information need to be improved.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of a structured aquatic and a non-aquatic exercise program for lower-limb muscle endurance on the static and dynamic balance of elderly people.


METHODS
This was a prospective randomized clinical study in which the variables were assessed before and after the training program. Thirty-six elderly people were evaluated using four tests: the Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, gait speed and tandem gait. The participants were randomized into three groups: aquatic exercise group, non-aquatic exercise group and control group. The exercise groups underwent a program for lower-limb muscle endurance that consisted of 40-minute sessions twice a week for six weeks. The participants were reevaluated after six weeks. The data were analyzed statistically using the univariate ANOVA test for comparisons between the groups before and after the intervention.


RESULTS
The program for lower-limb muscle endurance significantly increased balance (p<0.05) in the evaluation tests after the training program.


CONCLUSIONS
The muscle endurance program provided a significant improvement in static and dynamic balance among community-dwelling elderly people. It was also possible to infer that this improvement occurred regardless of the environment, i.e. aquatic or non-aquatic. Article registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) under the number ACTRN 12609000780257.
Avelar
Núbia C P
NC
Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal dos Vales dos Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil.
Bastone
Alessandra C
AC
Alcântara
Marcus A
MA
Gomes
Wellington Fabiano
WF
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies