Aging of the worldwide population is a concern of most governmental entities, spanning practically all areas of
prevention and rehabilitation. Aging leads to physiological alterations that result in adverse social and financial effects.
There is a trend to emphasize prevention, which is less expensive and socially more desirable than therapeutic intervention.
PURPOSE: To assess the effect of a program of aquatic versus non-aquatic respiratory exercises on respiratory muscle
strength in healthy aged persons.
METHODS: The respiratory muscle strength was measured in 81 subjects between 60 and 65 years, 59 of which
completed the program. Subjects were randomized into 3 groups. Gaquatic undertook a program of respiratory exercise in an
aquatic environment. Gnon-aquatic undertook the same program in a non-aquatic environment. Gcontrol acted as the negative
control. Programs were applied three times a week for 10 consecutive weeks. Subsequently, subjects were reevaluated, and
results compared to each individual’s pre-treatment own result and between the groups. The data were statistically analyzed
using the paired t test and the Sign test. Comparisons between the groups were performed through parametric and
nonparametric variance. A comparison of Gaquatic and Gnon-aquatic versus Gcontrol was performed using the Dunnett test.
RESULTS: A significant improvement in the inspiratory muscle strength in the Gaquatic group compared to the Gcontrol,
group was found, suggesting beneficial effects mediated by the aquatic exercise. The expiratory muscles did not show
significant alterations.
CONCLUSION: Aquatic respiratory exercise improves the inspiratory muscle strength of healthy aged persons. However,
neither aquatic nor non-aquatic respiratory exercise influences the expiratory muscle strength.