title: Water- versus land-based exercise in elderly subjects: effects on physical performance and body composition.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a 24-week exercise protocol carried out in geothermal spring water to improve overall physical function and muscle mass in a group of healthy elderly subjects. A further aim was to compare this water-based protocol with a land-based protocol and a control group. For this purpose, 59 subjects were recruited and randomly allocated to three groups: aquatic group (AG), land group (LG), and control group (CG). AG and LG followed a 6-month, twice-weekly, multimodality exercise intervention. AG underwent the protocol in hot-spring water (36°C) while LG did it in a land-based environment. After the intervention, knee-extension strength was maintained in AG and LG. The 8-foot up-and-go test showed a reduction in both exercise groups (AG -19.3%, P < 0.05; LG -12.6%, P < 0.05), with a significantly greater decrease in AG. The back-scratch test revealed an improvement only in AG (25.8%; P < 0.05), while the sit-and-reach test improved in all groups. Finally, AG reduced fat mass by 4% (P < 0.05), and dominant forearm fat decreased by 9.2% (P < 0.05). In addition, calf muscle density increased by 1.8% (P < 0.05). In summary, both water- and land-based activities were beneficial in maintaining strength and in improving lower-body flexibility. Aquatic exercise appeared a better activity to improve dynamic balance. Thermal swimming pools and the use of rating of perceived exertion as a method of exercise monitoring should be considered potentially useful tools to enhance physical performance and body composition in healthy elderly.
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy. marco.bergamin@unipd.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergamin
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ermolao
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tolomio
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berton
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sergi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaccaria
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: aging; multimodality exercise; muscle mass; performance