Effect of water aerobics on the functional autonomy of the elderly population

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of water aerobics exercise on the functional autonomy of the elderly. METHODS: Thirty-eight elderly subjects (aged 60-75 years) were randomly selected and divided into two groups: sedentary elderly subjects (GIS N = 19) and elderly subjects who practiced water aerobics three times a week, 50 minutes per session, for six months (GIH; N = 19). The subjects in GIS did not participate in any activity during this period. Physical aptitude was assessed using a battery of tests from the Latin American Development Group for the Elderly (LADGE), which measure activities of daily life: a 10-min walk (10mW), getting up from a seated position (GSP), getting up from the prone position (GPP), getting up from a chair and moving around (GCM), and putting on/taking off a shirt (PTS). All data are expressed in seconds. Differences between groups were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (SPSS software, version 16.0 for Windows). RESULTS: The level of functional autonomy was higher in G1 than in G2 (p &lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: We found that practice of water aerobics contributes to the improvement and maintenance of functional autonomy of the elderly. Increased autonomy positively affects self-esteem and ultimately enhances the quality of life of the elderly.</p