Effect of Water-Based Training Frequency on the Balance and Motor Function in Sedentary Elderly Men

Abstract

Objectives Water-based exercise (WEX) is one of the methods proposed to improve the performance of\rthe elderly, because physical activities on dry land may cause some problems and increase the risk of the\rinjury. Considering a longer recovery period in the elderly and lack of physical activity (especially WEX)\rfacilities for the older adults, manipulating training sessions is very important. Therefore, the aim of this\rresearch is assessing WEX on balance and functional indices of untrained elderly man.\rMethods & Materials This applied research is quasi-experimental in study design. Out of the sedentary\relderly men living in Tehran, 36 subjects voluntarily participated in this study. They were selected\rby random available sampling method. Their demographic variables were as follows: mean [SD] age\rof 64.36[2.15] years, height of 165.05[4.32] cm, weight of 62.89[3.73] kg, and BMI of 23.12[1.72] kg/\rm2. After signing personal consent forms by the participants, initial assessments were done. Then, the\rsubjects were randomly divided into three groups; 2 d/wk (n=12), 3 d/wk (n=12), and control (n=12)\rgroup. Water training protocol followed for 6 weeks. Threshold stimulation training intensity was considered\r55% of the maximum heart rate. Also, the volume of training for two WEX groups was exactly\rthe same. Indicators of static and dynamic balance and mobility, lower extremity strength, and flexibility\rwere evaluated at the conception and completion of the training protocol. To examine differences in\rpretest and posttest for each group, the paired t-test was used. Also, we used 1-way (ANOVA) to compare\rthree groups with each other. For all statistical operations, SPSS 17 at significant level of P≤0.05 was used.\rResults Based on the study results, there were no significant differences between 2 d/wk, 3 d/wk WEX\rgroups with regard to the static and dynamic balance as well as movement ability (P≥0.05). Both groups\rexperienced similar improvements in these factors. On the other hand, lower extremity strength and\rflexibility in 3 d/wk WEX group compared to 2 d/wk was significantly improved (P≤0.05). Furthermore,\rthe t test results showed significant differences (P≤0.05) with regard to all operating between pretest\rand posttest scores of the experimental group. However, this difference was not significant in the control\rgroup (P≥0.05). Moreover, comparing posttest results with pretest ones, lower extremity strength\rand flexibility in 3 d/wk WEX participants showed much more improvement than those scores in 2 d/\rwk group. Conclusion It seems that after 6 weeks WEX training, static and dynamic balance and mobility\rparameters of the elderly people are more affected compared to training frequency. However, the\rincrease in training frequency can improve other physical factors such as the lower extremity strength\rand flexibility.