Do water-based training and exercises have an influence on muscle strength, muscular endurance, balance and Quality of Life in elderly subjects - A scoping review

Background: With the global population growing older, age-related impairments have become more prevalent, especially with sedentary lifestyles. Physical exercising on dry land has become one of the most effective treatment methods to promote healthy aging. In contrast, aquatic exercise has been used in the past as an alternative exercise medium for specific populations with or without medical conditions. Due to the physical properties of water, fall risk is eliminated while joint stress and perceived pain are decreased, allowing more freedom in lower and upper limb movement than on dry land. To promote aquatic exercising, practitioners need to collect relevant information from water-based interventional studies to share their practical recommendations.
Methods: A scoping review in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines was performed. A systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was conducted. Studies that investigated the effectiveness of water-based interventions on physical fitness outcomes in elderly subjects were screened for inclusion. Relevant data was collected, summarized, and synthesized methodically.
Results: A total of 3,305 studies were identified, of which 42 articles were eligible for this review. Large inconsistencies were found in study populations, sample sizes, training types, reporting of exercise intensity, and presence of a control group. In contrast, consistencies were evident for exercise intervention frequency, duration, and length administered (three times per week for 60 min, with a total of 12 weeks of intervention).
Conclusion: Understanding the effectiveness of water-based exercise for physical health outcomes in older adults requires Randomized controlled trials (RCT) with large samples, in conjunction with consistent study reporting.