Is water aerobics capable of mitigating the effects of sarcopenia in the elderly?

Population aging is a worldwide reality and a global challenge for public health. Among the most striking changes in the ageing process is the loss of muscle mass, known as sarcopenia, which reflects a reduction in physical activity. However, exercise and physical activity work both to treat and prevent the disease. Objective: To see if water aerobics can mitigate the effects of sarcopenia. Material and Method: The study included 232 elderly men and women aged 65.4 (± 2.8), with a body mass of 67.9 kg (±12.8) who regularly practiced water aerobics. Body composition was assessed using the multifrequency bioimpedance method (Inbody 120). Results: Frequency analysis showed sarcopenia (40.5%) and polypharmacy (50%) among the participants. In addition, there was a low correlation between physical activity time and the sum of the participants' appendicular muscle mass r= 0.24 p<0.001. Conclusions: The demonstration that 150 minutes of water aerobics per week showed a low correlation between levels of physical exercise and appendicular lean mass, showed that exercise in an aquatic environment may have a small contribution to make to the prevention of sarcopenia. Moreover, the equality between the two groups in the consumption of medication may indicate a brief contribution of physical exercise in an aquatic environment in reducing sarcopenia.