The effect of aquatic exercise on physical functioning in the older adult: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: ageing and sedentary behaviour cause negative changes in the neuromuscular systems of healthy older adults resulting in a decrease in physical functioning. Exercising in water (aquatic exercise, AE) has been shown to be effective at improving physical functioning in this population; however, no systematic review with meta-analysis has been published. PURPOSE: to investigate the effect of AE on physical functioning in healthy older adults compared to control or land-based exercise (LE) through a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, Cinahl, PEDro, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, published before 31st December 2015. STUDY SELECTION: in total, 28 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review; 24 studies with 1,456 subjects (89% female) and with mean age 66.4 years were included in the meta-analysis. DATA EXTRACTION: data were extracted and checked for accuracy by three independent reviewers. DATA SYNTHESIS: size of treatment effect was measured using the standardised mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: compared to control interventions, AE had a moderate positive effect on physical functioning 0.70 [95% CI 0.48 to 0.92]. Compared to LE, AE had a small positive effect on physical functioning 0.39 [0.12 to 0.66]. LIMITATIONS: there is a high risk of bias and low methodological quality in the studies particularly when comparing AE to LE with possible over estimation of the benefit of AE. CONCLUSIONS: AE may improve physical functioning in healthy older people and is at least as effective as LE.
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A meta-analysis of 28 studies demonstrated a positive effect of aquatic exercises on physical functioning (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.48-0.92) compared with no training.
“A meta-analysis of 28 studies demonstrated a positive effect of aquatic exercises on physical functioning (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.48–0.92) compared with no training (control group)294.”
From Sarcopenic obesity in older adults: aetiology, epidemiology and treatment strategies (2018) · cites this paper as [294]
The Abstract (p. 1) reports a positive effect of aquatic exercise versus control of 0.70 (95% CI 0.48–0.92), also reported in Results under “Aquatic exercise compared to control.” However, 28 studies were included in the systematic review, only 24 in the meta-analysis, and the effect measure was a standardised mean difference, not a risk ratio (RR). (LLM, conf=0.94)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAquatic exercises are as effective as land-based exercises (SMD 0.39, 95% CI 0.12-0.66).
“aquatic exercises are as effective as land-based exercises (standardized mean difference 0.39, 95% CI 0.12–0.66)”
From Sarcopenic obesity in older adults: aetiology, epidemiology and treatment strategies (2018) · cites this paper as [294]
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- Authors
- Waller, B., Ogonowska-Słodownik, A., Vitor, M., Rodionova, K., Lambeck, J., Heinonen, A., & Daly, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Jyväskylä (FI)
- Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw (PL)
- Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LV)
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Waller, Benjamin
- Venue
- Age and Ageing
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2016-07-04
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 594-602
- ISSN
- 0002-0729 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-2834
- OpenAlex
- W2464574497
- Cited by
- 88
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 0.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Age and Ageing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lirias (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Suomen Kulttuurirahasto
- Jyväskylän Yliopisto
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- aquatic exercise, physical function, older adults, land-based exercise, aging, sedentary behavior, exercise intervention effectiveness
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Humans, Physical Fitness, Water, Exercise
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