Background: Activities in the aquatic environment can be an interesting alternative of physical exercise for the elderly, due to several properties of water, which can favor the physiological, metabolic, perceptive, and musculoskeletal effects. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of performing two hydrogymnastic class methodologies on the functional capacity and flexibility in elderly women.
Methods: Ninety women, aged 55-70 years, were divided into three groups, the control group (CG; N.=30) who did not exercise during the 12 weeks, experimental group 1 (EG1; N.=30), who performed water gymnastics classes with emphasis on lower limb exercises for 12 weeks, and experimental group 2 (EG2; N.=30), who performed conventional hydrogymnastics classes for 12 weeks. The volunteers were evaluated through the 30-second chair stand (30CST), 2-minute step test (2MST), timed up and go (TUG), static balance (SB) and chair sit-and-reach (CSR) tests.
Results: In the intragroup comparison, there were significant improvements in the performance of 30CST tests (F=5.5, P=0.022), TUG (F=19.3, P<0.001), SB (F=5.3, P=0.025), and CSR (F=12.0, P=0.001) in EG1 and EG2. For intergroup comparisons, the EG1 presented better results than CG in CST (P<0.05). The EG2, presented better results than CG in CST, TUG, SB and CSR (P<0.05). There were no significant differences for the comparison between EG1 and EG2.
Conclusions: It was concluded that 12 weeks of hydrogymnastics practice improved the functional capacity and flexibility of the elderly women evaluated, and no differences were found between the two types of methodologies used.