Cargando…

Water- versus land-based exercise in elderly subjects: effects on physical performance and body composition

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 a...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Bergamin, Marco, Ermolao, Andrea, Tolomio, Silvia, Berton, Linda, Sergi, Giuseppe, Zaccaria, Marco
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Dove Medical Press 2013
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3762608/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24009416
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S44198
_version_ 1782282913216200704
author Bergamin, Marco
Ermolao, Andrea
Tolomio, Silvia
Berton, Linda
Sergi, Giuseppe
Zaccaria, Marco
author_facet Bergamin, Marco
Ermolao, Andrea
Tolomio, Silvia
Berton, Linda
Sergi, Giuseppe
Zaccaria, Marco
author_sort Bergamin, Marco
collection PubMed
description 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.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-3762608
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2013
publisher Dove Medical Press
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-37626082013-09-05 Water- versus land-based exercise in elderly subjects: effects on physical performance and body composition Bergamin, Marco Ermolao, Andrea Tolomio, Silvia Berton, Linda Sergi, Giuseppe Zaccaria, Marco Clin Interv Aging Original Research 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. Dove Medical Press 2013 2013-08-27 /pmc/articles/PMC3762608/ /pubmed/24009416 http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S44198 Text en © 2013 Bergamin et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.
spellingShingle Original Research
Bergamin, Marco
Ermolao, Andrea
Tolomio, Silvia
Berton, Linda
Sergi, Giuseppe
Zaccaria, Marco
Water- versus land-based exercise in elderly subjects: effects on physical performance and body composition
title Water- versus land-based exercise in elderly subjects: effects on physical performance and body composition
title_full Water- versus land-based exercise in elderly subjects: effects on physical performance and body composition
title_fullStr Water- versus land-based exercise in elderly subjects: effects on physical performance and body composition
title_full_unstemmed Water- versus land-based exercise in elderly subjects: effects on physical performance and body composition
title_short Water- versus land-based exercise in elderly subjects: effects on physical performance and body composition
title_sort water- versus land-based exercise in elderly subjects: effects on physical performance and body composition
topic Original Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3762608/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24009416
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S44198
work_keys_str_mv AT bergaminmarco waterversuslandbasedexerciseinelderlysubjectseffectsonphysicalperformanceandbodycomposition
AT ermolaoandrea waterversuslandbasedexerciseinelderlysubjectseffectsonphysicalperformanceandbodycomposition
AT tolomiosilvia waterversuslandbasedexerciseinelderlysubjectseffectsonphysicalperformanceandbodycomposition
AT bertonlinda waterversuslandbasedexerciseinelderlysubjectseffectsonphysicalperformanceandbodycomposition
AT sergigiuseppe waterversuslandbasedexerciseinelderlysubjectseffectsonphysicalperformanceandbodycomposition
AT zaccariamarco waterversuslandbasedexerciseinelderlysubjectseffectsonphysicalperformanceandbodycomposition