Artefactum · Nov 12, 2026

Functional health of older women participating in water aerobics assessed by mobility and handgrip strength

By Sganzerla AVM, de Castro MA, da Silva AA et al.

The aim was to describe the functional mobility and handgrip strength of older women participating in a free water aerobics program in Goiânia, Goiás. This was an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach. Of the 72 recorded assessments, 57 participants aged 60 years or older met the inclusion criteria. Data collection was conducted on October 15 and 16, 2026. Functional mobility was assessed using the Timed Up and Go, with a three-meter course, and handgrip strength using dynamometry, with three trials per hand, alternating hands and with a one-minute interval between trials. The highest value for each hand was used. Data were analyzed using the mean, sample standard deviation, median, and range. The mean age was 69.25 ± 6.31 years, ranging from 60 to 87 years. The mean Timed Up and Go time was 8.48 ± 2.31 seconds, with a median of 8.04 seconds and a range of 4.62 to 17.39 seconds. Handgrip strength was 23.61 ± 4.84 kgf on the right and 22.70 ± 4.48 kgf on the left, with a median of 22.00 kgf for both. It is concluded that the measurements characterized the participants' functional mobility and handgrip strength, with variability in performance. The study design does not allow the results to be attributed to water aerobics or individual diagnoses to be established.

doi.org/10.23900/artefactum.v25i13.205Open accessPopulations