Aquatic Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54167/rmccf.v6i12.2387

Keywords:

Elderly, Physical fitness, aquatic exercise, healthy aging

Abstract

Abstract: Population aging is a global phenomenon linked to the increase of chronic diseases that compromise the functional capacity of older adults. Health-related quality of life is a key indicator for understanding well-being in old age; aquatic physical activity has emerged as an effective strategy to promote autonomy and preserve health in this population.Objective: To evaluate the effect of an aquatic physical activity program on health-related quality of life in older adults.Method: A pre-experimental pre-post study with a sample of 72 participants at pretest (mean age: 68.92 years in women, 66 years in men), reduced to 55 at posttest (mean age: 69.62; SD = 4.60; Range = 62–79). The intervention was carried out over three months at the Alberca Niño Espino in Chihuahua, with structured aquatic exercise sessions. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire, which measures eight dimensions: physical function, vitality, physical role, bodily pain, general health, social function, emotional role, and mental health. Paired-sample t-tests were applied to compare pretest and posttest scores.Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in physical function (t = −2.844, p = 0.006), vitality (t = −2.108, p = 0.040), and emotional role (t = −2.373, p = 0.022). The remaining dimensions showed positive trends without reaching statistical significance.Conclusion: The aquatic physical activity program produced significant benefits in key dimensions of quality of life in older adults.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54167/rmccf.v6i12.2387 

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Acordi da Silva, L., Tortelli, L., Motta, J., Menguer, L., Mariano, S., Tasca, G., De Bem Silveira, G., Pinho, R. A., & Lock Silveira, P. C. (2019). Effects of aquatic exercise on mental health, functional autonomy and oxidative stress in depressed elderly individuals: A randomized clinical trial. Clinics, 74, e322. https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2019/e322

Alikhajeh, Y., Afroundeh, R., Mohammad Rahimi, G. R., Mohammad Rahimi, N., Niyazi, A., & Ghollasimood, M. (2022). The effects of a 12-week aquatic training intervention on the quality of life of healthy elderly men: a randomized controlled trial. Sport Sciences for Health, 19, 665–670. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-022-00938-9

Alikhajeh, Y., Afroundeh, R., Motevalli, M., G., Isik, O. (2025). The effect of a three-month aquatic training program on physical functioning in elderly men: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2025, 9157147. https://doi.org/10.1155/ijcp/9157147

Barceló Reyna, R., Ornelas Contreras, M., & Blanco Vega, H. (2021). Utilización del Cuestionario de Salud SF-36 en personas mayores. Revisión sistemática. Ansiedad y Estrés, 27(2-3), 95–102. https://doi.org/10.5093/anyes2021a13

Bartels, E. M., Juhl, C. B., Christensen, R., Hagen, K. B., Danneskiold-Samsøe, B., Dagfinrud, H., & Lund, H. (2016). Aquatic exercise for the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (3), CD005523. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005523.pub3

Basto-Abreu, A., López-Olmedo, N., Rojas-Martínez, R., Aguilar-Salinas, C. A., Moreno-Banda, G. L., Carnalla, M., Rivera, J. A., Romero-Martínez, M., Barquera, S., & Barrientos-Gutiérrez, T. (2023). Prevalencia de prediabetes y diabetes en México: Ensanut 2022. Salud Pública de México, 65(supl. 1), s163–s168. https://doi.org/10.21149/14832

Campos-Nonato, I., Galván-Valencia, Ó., Hernández-Barrera, L., Oviedo-Solís, C., & Barquera, S. (2023). Prevalencia de obesidad y factores de riesgo asociados en adultos mexicanos: resultados de la Ensanut 2022. Salud Pública de México, 65(supl. 1), s238–s247. https://doi.org/10.21149/14809

Consejo Nacional de Población. (2023). Conciliación demográfica de México 1950-2019 y proyecciones de la población de México y las entidades federativas 2020-2070. Gobierno de México. https://www.gob.mx/conapo/acciones-y-programas/conciliacion-demografica-de-1950-a-2019-y-proyecciones-de-la-poblacion-de-mexico-y-de-las-entidades-federativas-2020-a-2070

Correa Fernandez, J. T., Enriquez del Castillo, L. A., Lopez Alonzo, S. J., Quintana Mendias, E., Cervantes Hernandez, N., Flores Olivares, L. A., & Chávez Zamarrón, P. (2024). Efecto de un programa de ejercicio físico sobre variables biopsicosociales en pacientes con diagnóstico de Sida. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias de la Cultura Física, 3(9), 73–87. https://doi.org/10.54167/rmccf.v3i9.1557

Faíl, L. B., Marinho, D. A., Marques, E. A., Costa, M. J., Santos, C. C., Marques, M. C., Izquierdo, M., & Neiva, H. P. (2022). Benefits of aquatic exercise in adults with and without chronic disease: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 32(3), 465–486. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14112

Guyatt, G. H., Feeny, D. H., & Patrick, D. L. (1993). Measuring health-related quality of life. Annals of Internal Medicine, 118(8), 622–629. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-118-8-199304150-00009

Hernández Sampieri, R., Fernández Collado, C., & Baptista Lucio, P. (2010). Metodología de la investigación (5ª ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Melo, R. S., Ferreira Cardeira, C. S., Rezende, D. S. A., Guimarães-do-Carmo, V. J., Lemos, A., & Galvão de Moura-Filho, A. (2023).

Effectiveness of the aquatic physical therapy exercises to improve balance, gait, quality of life and reduce fall-related outcomes in healthy community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 18(9), e0291193. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291193

Mireles Alonso, M. A., Salazar Barajas, M. E., Guerra Ordóñez, J. A., Ávila Alpirez, H., Silva Fhon, J. R., & Duran-Badillo, T. (2022). Calidad de vida relacionada con dependencia funcional, funcionamiento familiar y apoyo social en adultos mayores. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, 56, e20210482. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2021-0482en

Oh, S. J., & Lee, S. H. (2021). Comparing durability of water- and land-based exercise benefits among older adults in South Korea: A randomized controlled trial with 1-year follow-up. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 34(5), 745–755. https://doi.org/10.3233/BMR-200109

Organización de las Naciones Unidas. (2022). World Population Prospects. https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/wpp2022_summary_of_results.pdf

Patrick, D. L., & Erickson, P. (1993). Health status and health policy: Quality of life in health care evaluation and resource allocation. Oxford University Press.

Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful aging. The Gerontologist, 37(4), 433–440. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/37.4.433

Sabando, V., & Albala, C. (2019). Calidad de vida relacionada con salud oral y autopercepción de salud: Encuesta Nacional de Calidad de Vida y Salud 2015–2016 en Chile. International Journal of Odontostomatology, 13(3), 338–344. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-381X2019000300338

Tang, Z., Wang, Y., Liu, J., & Liu, Y. (2022). Effects of aquatic exercise on mood and anxiety symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 1051551. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1051551

The WHOQOL Group. (1995). The World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL): Position paper from the World Health Organization. Social Science & Medicine, 41(10), 1403–1409. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(95)00112-K

Waller, B., Ogonowska-Slodownik, A., Vitor, M., Rodionova, K., Lambeck, J., Heinonen, A., & Daly, D. (2016). The effect of aquatic exercise on physical functioning in the older adult: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Age and Ageing, 45(5), 593–601. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw102

World Health Organization. (2015). World report on ageing and health. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565042

Downloads

Published

2026-06-25

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 12 (2026): Cuerpo, Sociedad y Movimiento

Section

Original Manuscripts

License

Copyright (c) 2026 OMAR RICARDO CANO PRADO; CAROLINA JIMÉNEZ LIRA; MARTHA ORNELAS CONTRERAS, ELIA VERONICA BENAVIDES PANDO

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Cano Prado, O. R., Jiménez Lira , C., Ornelas Contreras, M., & Benavides Pando, E. V. (2026). Aquatic Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias de la Cultura Física, 6(12), e2387. https://doi.org/10.54167/rmccf.v6i12.2387
Metrics
Views/Downloads
  • Abstract
    450
  • PDF
    132
  • HTML
    15

Most read articles by the same author(s)