Comparing the Effects of Aquatic and Land-based Exercises on the Bio-motor Abilities of Elderly Men

Physical activity, whether in water or on land, can improve motor disorders in the elderly. However, the more effective type of exercise remains inconspicuous.
Aim: To compare the effects of aquatic and land-based exercises on the bio-motor abilities of elderly men.
This clinical trial was performed on 60 elderly men visiting Imamat and Daneshamuz health centers in Mashhad, Iran, in 2016. The eligible volunteers were randomly assigned to two groups (n=30 each). In one group, the subjects attended aquatic exercise sessions for six weeks, while the other group participated a land-based exercise program. Bio-motor abilities of the subjects including motor ability, flexibility, and general endurance were evaluated before and immediately after the intervention and recorded in a researcher-made checklist. Data were analyzed in SPSS, version 16, using the independent t-test, paired t-test, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and exact Chi-square test.
The mean ages of the aquatic exercise and land-based exercise groups were respectively 69.9±5.1 and 68.0±5.0 years. Post-intervention, the aquatic exercise group showed significantly higher motor ability (P=0.01) and general endurance (P=0.02) than did the other group. However, the difference in final flexibility of the groups was not significant (P=0.252). Paired t-test showed a significant improvement in bio-motor abilities of both groups post-intervention (PImplications for Practice: Since the aquatic exercise program had a greater impact on bio-motor abilitiesthan did the land-based program, it is recommended for achieving better results among elderly men.