Programas de ejercicio físico acuáticos para la prevención de caídas en los mayores. Revisión bibliográfica

Background: The physiological changes of aging increase the risk of falls up to 10 times in people over 65 years. Exercise programs in the aquatic environment could be the alternative to those performed on land, minimizing this risk. Few studies have evaluated the effect of aquatic exercise on balance in the elderly. The need to study whether through the implementation of physical exercise programs in the aquatic environment could reduce the risk of falls is manifested. Objectives: To analyze the scientific literature on studies conducted in the aquatic environment and to verify the effectiveness in improving the parameters related to balance and functionality, and therefore, the lower risk of falls in the elderly, through the practice of exercises. Method: We analyzed 18 articles published in scientific journals, searched in the databases PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Social Abstracts under the topics of "elderly" AND "aquatic exercise". These works went through the selection filter, which consisted in the elimination of duplicates, the existence of both topics in the title, only older people participated and they covered the objective of this study and whose publication year exceeded 2008. The study population was physically active in the aquatic environment, whose age was> 65 years. The studies of the single group were taken into account, but also those that formalized two groups, as well as those studies that showed statistically, through the use of the computer program (SPSS), the positive influence of the training in the aquatic environment with the improvement of the balance or functionality. Results: Exercise in the aquatic environment provides benefits in muscle strength, increased cognitive capacity, increased flexibility, improved flexibility and balance, and can reduce the risk of falls in its practitioners. Conclusions: The work of balance in the aquatic environment reduces the risk of falls Fundamento: As alterações fisiológicas do envelhecimento aumentam o risco de quedas em até 10 vezes em pessoas com mais de 65 anos. Programas de exercícios no meio aquático podem ser a alternativa aos praticados em terra, minimizando esse risco. Poucos estudos avaliaram o efeito do exercício aquático no equilíbrio em idosos. A necessidade de estudar se através da implementação de programas de exercícios físicos no meio aquático poderia reduzir o risco de quedas se manifesta. Objetivos: Analisar a literatura científica sobre os estudos no ambiente aquá