title: Comparison of the effects of water- and land-based exercises on the physical function and quality of life in community-dwelling elderly people with history of falling: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of water-based exercises on the physical functions and quality of life (QOL) in community-dwelling elderly people with history of falling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned to the water-based exercise group (n=34) or land-based exercise groups (n=32). To identify the effects on physical functions, muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility were measured. QOL and fear of falling were evaluated using the Short Form 36-item questionnaire and the modified falls efficacy scale (M-FES). The measurements were performed before and after the 10-week training period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within-group analysis indicated that hip abduction and adduction strength improved significantly in both groups (p=0.005; p=0.007). However, no statistically significant within-group differences were found in the back scratch test (p=0.766) and chair sit-and-reach test (p=0.870). QOL was significantly different in both groups (health transition: p=0.014, physical functioning: p<0.001, role physical: p<0.001, role emotional: p=0.002, bodily pain: p<0.001, vitality: p<0.001, and mental health: p<0.001). There was a significant difference in the M-FES in both groups (p=0.040).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that water-based exercises are beneficial to improve the QOL, as well as physical activities, of community-dwelling elderly compared with land-based exercise. Water-based exercises would be useful to improve physical and psychological health in the elderly people with history of falling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: SeJun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yushin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: MinSeock
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Tourism Administration, College of Business Administration, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: WoonGang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: yoonbc@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: BumChul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Community-dwelling elderly; Fear of falling; Land-based exercises; Physical functions; Quality of life; Water-based exercises