Adapted aquatics program for senior dependents: psychological, physical and physiological benefits

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to study the effects of an adapted swimming-based exercise programme on self-esteem, weight reduction, balance and joint mobility. The sample consisted of 33 participants over 60 years of age from Almeria. The adapted swimming-based motor intervention programme was applied for eight months. Levels of self-esteem and the other variables –weight, balance and joint mobility– were assessed with the Rosenberg Scale at the beginning and the end of the programme. Various descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted and it was found that significant improvements had been achieved in self-esteem, weight reduction, optimization of balance and joint mobility. The adapted swimming-based motor intervention programme significantly influenced the health and betterment of the people in the sample.