THE EFFECTS OF AQUA EXERCISE ON BALANCE FUNCTION IN MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN
- VernacularTitle:中高齢女性のバランス機能に対する水中運動の効果
- Author:
TAKETAKA HARA
;
TAKAHIRO YOSHIKAWA
;
HAYATO NAKAO
;
LIXIN WANG
;
TAKASHI SUZUKI
;
SHIGEO FUJIMOTO
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
aqua exercise;
balance function;
balance training
- From:Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine
2007;56(3):357-364
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
The decrease of balance capacity is considered as a high risk factor of fall accident, so it is important for the middle-aged and elderly people to keep balance capacity on a high level. In this study, we investigated the effects of aqua exercise on dynamic and static balance function. Thirty-two middle-aged women (56.6±8.1 years) participated a 60-min aqua exercise program three times per week for eight weeks. After exercise intervention, body weight, body mass index, grip strength, side step, shuttle stamina walking test were significantly improved (p<0.05-0.001). Functional reach (p<0.001) and total length of centroid shake with eye close condition (p<0.05) was significantly improved, but with eye open condition was not changed. However, when we evaluate the total length of centroid shake by T-score, static balance performance with eye open and close condition was significantly (p<0.05) improved in the below average groups. In addition, measurement value of functional reach was also improved in these groups. These results indicate that aqua exercise benefits not only physical muscle strength and endurance capacity, but also balance function in middle-aged women. Particularly aqua exercise is more effective for the subjects with lower static balance function before intervention.
