Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026
10:19
Getting to Compliance in Forced Exercise in Rodents: A Critical Standard to Evaluate Exercise Impact in Aging-related Disorders and Disease
Published on: August 22, 2014
14.6K
The dose-effect relationship of aquatic exercise in improving physical function in older adults
Jiahui Wang1, Fuyou Li1, Jingwen Chen2
1Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
BMC Sports Science, Medicine & Rehabilitation
|January 8, 2026
Summary
Aquatic exercise significantly enhances physical function in older adults, improving balance, muscle strength, and cardiopulmonary capacity. High-frequency, long-term combined resistance and aerobic training programs are most effective for these benefits.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Exercise Science
- Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy
Background:
- Global population aging increases risks of falls and functional dependence in the elderly.
- Aquatic exercise offers low-impact, multi-muscle engagement beneficial for elderly physical function.
- Previous research lacked integration of multidimensional indicators and dose-effect relationships in aquatic exercise studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the effects of aquatic exercise on multidimensional physical functions in the elderly.
- To determine the differential effects of various aquatic exercise intervention programs on elderly physical function.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis of 23 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1179 healthy elderly individuals (≥60 years) was conducted.
- Searched Chinese and English databases up to April 2025, assessing risk of bias using the Cochrane tool.
- Extracted intervention program details (type, duration, frequency) and functional indicators, using RevMan 5.4 for meta-analysis and subgroup analysis.
Main Results:
- Aquatic exercise significantly improved static and dynamic balance, lower limb strength, upper limb strength, and cardiopulmonary function (2MST).
- Resistance training showed the greatest effect on dynamic balance, while combined resistance and aerobic training yielded the most significant gains in lower limb strength.
- Long-term (>12 weeks) and high-frequency (>2 times/week) interventions, particularly combined resistance and aerobic training, were most effective for dynamic balance and lower limb strength.
Conclusions:
- Aquatic exercise offers comprehensive physical function improvements for the elderly population.
- Recommended interventions include high-frequency (>2 times/week) and long-term (>12 weeks) combined resistance and aerobic training programs.
- Future research should standardize parameters and explore psychological/social benefits, while clinical practice should tailor interventions to individual deficits.
More Related Videos
07:26Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
21.2K
07:27Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty
Published on: October 6, 2016
10.6K
Related Concept Videos
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
219
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
219
01:00Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
227
Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are...
227
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
232
In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
232
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
1.8K
Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
1.8K
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
183
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
183
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
3.9K
Exercise significantly impacts cardiovascular response, which is crucial for understanding patient health and designing effective treatment plans.
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
3.9K