Revista Científica Nexus · Feb 25, 2026
Therapeutic aquatic exercise and its influence on postural control in older adults
By Valle ISH, Fischer BRM
This study investigates the effects of therapeutic aquatic exercise on postural control in older adults, considering the physiological, sensory, and neuromuscular changes caused by aging. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design was used with 20 people aged 60 to 78 years who participated in a structured aquatic intervention program for eight weeks. Postural control was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, the Romberg test, and a postural observation sheet. The program included adaptation, core strengthening, weight transfer, dynamic balance, and controlled instability exercises in a three-dimensional aquatic environment. The results show significant improvements in all variables. BBS scores show a progression associated with better control of static and dynamic balance. TUG times, in turn, are shorter, indicating an increase in the speed of functional movement. The cause of these changes is related to an improvement in the anticipatory and mechanical mechanisms of balance, facilitated by the properties and characteristics of water, such as buoyancy, multidirectional resistance, and the hydrostatic pressure relationship. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of therapeutic aquatic exercise as a treatment that contributes to body stability and autonomy in older adults. The development of aquatic exercise programs in the community and in clinical treatment is recommended, as is further research that increases the sample size and evaluates the maintenance of the effects over the long term.