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

Se Jun Oh, Jong Min Lim, Yushin Kim, Min Seock Kim, Woon Gang Song, Bum Chul Yoon

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    31 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Purpose: 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. Materials and 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.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)288-293
    Number of pages6
    JournalArchives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
    Volume60
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015 Mar 1

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    This study was supported by the South Korea Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (grant No. R0001641 ).

    Keywords

    • Community-dwelling elderly
    • Fear of falling
    • Land-based exercises
    • Physical functions
    • Quality of life
    • Water-based exercises

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Health(social science)
    • Ageing
    • Gerontology
    • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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