A hydrotherapy program of 32 sessions applied over 16 consecutive weeks was specifically elaborated for this study. The first four sessions (pre-training) were used for adaptation to the aquatic environment, and 28 sessions were used for muscular flexibility development and strength development with up to seven levels of increasing difficulty. The sessions took place in pairs and lasted for an hour, with 15 minutes for the measurement of vital signs, and 45 minutes for six warm-up activities, 11 flexibility activities, eight strengthening and four relaxation activities. Since the speed of the exercises varied according to the degree of difficulty and the addition of resistance with floaters, determination of the number of repetitions was difficult, and it was decided to perform the exercises by periods of time, and not by the number of repetitions. During the training period, the women
from the control group took part in the classes about general health care for equivalent periods of time