This study evaluated static and dynamic balance and related motor valences in elderly women who had been undergone gymnastics or aquatic exercise training for at least 6 months, three times a week. Thirty-one women performed water gymnastics (mean age: 69.32 ± 6.57 years) and 28 gymnastics (65.57 ± 7.67 years). Height (cm), weight (kg) and waist, hip and abdominal circumference (cm) were measured and the body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Physical fitness was measured using the "sit and get up in 30 seconds" test (leg endurance) and "8-foot up-and-go" test (dynamic balance), both proposed by Rikli and Jones (1999), and the "sit and reach" (flexibility) and static balance tests described by Caromano (1998). Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t-test and Pearson's correlation, with a level of significance of 0.05. No significant difference in the anthropometric measures (BMI and WHR) was observed between groups. In the physical fitness tests, significant differences were only found in the "8-foot up-and-go" and "sit and get up" tests, with the gymnastics group presenting better results. No correlations within or between groups were observed regarding static and dynamic balance or motor valences. In conclusion, neither type of exercise was superior but the gymnastics group tended to show better results in terms of parameters such as agility, balance and flexibility.
Aquatic exercise; Gymnastics; Older adult; Physical fitness