BACKGROUND Normal aging is associated with balance, mobility and working memory decline that increase fall risk and influence activity of daily living functions. Mounting evidence suggests that physical activity is beneficial for decreasing aging effects. Previous studies have focused on land-based physical activity. Research concerning the aquatic environment is scarce. The primary objectives of this three arm intervention pilot study were to examine the effects of an aquatic physical intervention program on balance, gait, fall risk and working memory among community-dwelling older individuals. The secondary objective was to examine the effects of an aquatic physical intervention program on safety of street-crossing among community-dwelling older individuals. METHODS Forty-two healthy participants aged 65 or older were enrolled into one of three intervention groups: aquatic physical intervention (API) (N = 13), on-land physical intervention (OLPI) (N = 14) or non-physical intervention (NPI) (N = 15). The intervention took place from 2018 until 2019 at Tel-Aviv University, Sheba medical center and Reich Center. The protocol included 30-min sessions twice a week for 12 weeks. Balance, gait and fall risk were assessed by the Tinneti test, working memory abilities were assessed by digit span and Corsi blocks tests and simulated safe streets-crossing was assessed by the hazard perception test for pedestrians. Testing and data collection was conducted at baseline, after six weeks and 12 weeks of intervention. All members of the professional team involved in evaluating participants were blind to the intervention group to which participants were allocated. RESULTS The differences in Tinetti balance (F (2, 39)=10.03, p < 0.01), fall risk (F (2, 39)=5.62, p0 > .05), digit span forward (F (2, 39)=8.85, p < 0.01) and Corsi blocks forward (F (2, 39)=3.54, p < 0.05) and backward (F (2, 39)=6.50, p < 0.05) scores after 12 weeks between the groups were significant. The API group showed improved scores. The differences in hazard perception test for pedestrians scores after 12 weeks of intervention between the groups were marginally significant (F (2, 39)=3.13, p = 0.055). The API group showed improved scores. CONCLUSIONS These findings may affect experts working with the elderly population when making decisions concerning therapeutic prevention interventions for the deficiencies of elderly patients. Older adults practicing aquatic physical activity could contribute to their increased safety. TRIAL REGISTRATION Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry NCT03510377. Date of registration: 10/31/2017.

中文翻译：

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水生身体干预对老年人行人跌倒风险，工作记忆和危害感知的影响：一项试点试验。

背景技术正常的衰老与平衡，活动性和工作记忆下降有关，这增加了跌倒风险并影响日常生活功能。越来越多的证据表明，体育锻炼有利于减少衰老。先前的研究集中在陆上体育活动上。关于水生环境的研究很少。这项三臂干预试点研究的主要目标是检验水生物理干预计划对社区居住的老年人的平衡，步态，跌倒风险和工作记忆的影响。次要目标是研究水生物理干预计划对社区居住的老年人之间过马路安全性的影响。方法将42名65岁或65岁以上的健康参与者纳入三个干预组之一：水生物理干预（API）（N = 13），陆上物理干预（OLPI）（N = 14）或非物理干预（ NPI）（N = 15）。干预于2018年至2019年在特拉维夫大学，舍巴医学中心和帝国中心进行。该协议包括每周两次，每次30分钟，持续12周。通过Tinneti测试评估平衡，步态和跌倒风险，通过手指跨度和Corsi块测验评估工作记忆能力，并通过对行人的危害感知测验评估模拟的安全过马路。在干预六周和十二周后，在基线进行测试和数据收集。参与评估参与者的专业团队的所有成员都对分配参与者的干预组视而不见。结果Tinetti余额（F（2，39）= 10.03，p <0.01），跌倒风险（F（2，39）= 5.62，p0> .05），数字向前跨度（F（2，39）=两组之间在12周后向前得分（F（2，39）= 3.54，p <0.05）和向后得分（F（2，39）= 6.50，p <0.05）和Corsi阻滞得分显着。API组显示出更高的分数。干预12周后，行人分数的危险感知测试差异在边际上显着（F（2，39）= 3.13，p = 0.055）。API组显示出更高的分数。结论这些发现可能会影响与老年人群体合作的专家，在针对老年人疾病的治疗预防干预措施做出决策时。从事水上运动的老年人可以提高他们的安全性。试验注册试验注册号：ClinicalTrials.gov注册表NCT03510377。注册日期：2017年10月31日。