A Systematic Review of Aquatic Exercise Programs on Balance Measures in Older Adults

There are a variety of studies performed using aquatic exercise programs to evaluate balance measures using a case-control or pretest-posttest method on healthy young populations (Geytenbeek, 2002). Balance can be defined as either static; maintenance of an upright posture and stance or dynamic; posture adaption and maintenance control of movements and stability (Rose & Clark, 2000). An aquatic exercise program will henceforth be defined as any acute or chronic exercises performed in water with the head vertically and out of the water with the main goal to increase physical activity in a low risk environment. There is minimal data that includes observations on how these aquatic exercise programs affect the measurement of balance in an older population (40 years and older). Balance is an important part of movement during activities of daily living (ADL) for any individual, but especially with an older population who have an increased risk of falling (Arnold & Faulkner, 2010)