Land vs. Water Exercises on Performance and Swimming Behavior in Older Adults

NCT07784205 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: EskisehirTU-SBF-CK-03
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 180
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the effects of an 8-week combined land and aquatic exercise program (conducted 3 days per week) on physical performance, recreational swimming behaviors, and water-related risk perceptions in older adults. Physical performance is evaluated using handgrip strength and the 30-second chair sit-up test (30CST), while swimming behaviors and water-related risk perceptions are assessed via structured questionnaires.

Conditions

Resistance Training; Hydrotherapy; Swimming; Muscle Strength; Accidental Falls; Aged; Healthy Aging; Exercise Therapy; Risk Reduction Behavior

Keywords

Active aging; fall risk; water safety; muscle strength; aquatic exercise; recreational swimming

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Lower Extremity Muscle Strength (30-Second Chair Stand Test)

  Measured using the 30-Second Chair Sit-to-Stand Test (30CST) to assess functional lower extremity muscle strength and endurance. Participants sit in a 43.2 cm armless chair with arms crossed over the chest and complete as many full sit-to-stands as possible in 30 seconds. Higher scores indicate better physical performance.

  Baseline (Pre-test) and 8 Weeks (Post-test)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Swimming Behaviors Score

  Baseline (Pre-test) and 8 Weeks (Post-test)

Study Arms (1)

Experimental: Land and Aquatic Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Older adult volunteers (aged 62-86 years) who underwent an 8-week, 24-session land- and aquatic-based exercise program 3 days per week (30 minutes per session) on sand and in shallow sea water. Physical performance, swimming behaviors, and risk perceptions were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

Behavioral: 8-Week Beach and Aquatic Exercise Intervention

Interventions

8-Week Beach and Aquatic Exercise Intervention BEHAVIORAL

An 8-week, 24-session multi-component exercise intervention conducted 3 days per week (30 minutes per session) on sand/beach and in shallow sea water. The program consists of three structured components:Warm-up (5 minutes): Slow walking and joint mobilization on sand/land. Main Resistance \& Aquatic Training (20 minutes): Land-based bodyweight exercises (squats, knee push-ups, brisk walking on sand) combined with shallow sea-water resistance exercises (high knees in all four directions at waist level, arm/shoulder extension and flexion against water resistance). Routine Water Activity \& Cool-Down (5 minutes): Controlled water entry/exit practice followed by static stretching on land.

Also known as: Combined Beach and Water Resistance Training

Experimental: Land and Aquatic Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 62 Years - 86 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Both male and female older adult volunteers are eligible to participate in the study.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older
• Able to participate independently in land and shallow-water exercise programs
• Able to understand and respond to survey questions and assessment protocols
• Willing to provide written informed consent prior to study participation

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of severe or unstable cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic conditions contraindicating moderate exercise
• Acute or severe orthopedic, musculoskeletal, or neurological impairments restricting participation in physical testing or exercise sessions
• Open skin lesions, severe infectious diseases, or incontinence preventing participation in aquatic activities
• Severe cognitive impairment precluding comprehension of instructions or safe execution of exercise protocols

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eskisehir Technical University: lead
• Bozok University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Eskişehir Technical University

Eskişehir, Tepebaşi, 26100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Risk Reduction Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• celil kaçoğlu

  Eskişehir Teknik Üniversitesi

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor / Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 12, 2026
• First Posted: August 25, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: August 11, 2026
• Study Completion: August 11, 2026
• Last Updated: August 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)