SynthesisFrontiers in public health2025
Optimal dose of aquatic exercise for improving muscle strength in older adults: a Bayesian model-based meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effects of aquatic exercise on pain and physical function in overweight/obese patients with lower limb osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Pooled it
- Aquatic Pilates Is Associated with Improved Spinal Alignment and Functional Performance in Women Aged 55-65 Years with Thoracic Kyphosis.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objective: Amid global population aging, the progressive loss of muscle strength is a critical challenge compromising the functional independence of older adults. This study aimed to systematically quantify the dose-response relationship between various doses of aquatic exercise (frequency, session duration, total weekly duration, period, and intensity) and muscle strength in healthy older adults through a Bayesian model-based meta-analysis, in order to identify the optimal exercise protocol and inform precision exercise prescription. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wan Fang Data were systematically searched for RCTs on aquatic exercise and older adults' muscle strength up to March 2025. A conventional meta-analysis evaluated overall effects, followed by a Bayesian model-based dose-response meta-analysis using cubic restricted splines to quantify non-linear relationships. Standardized mean difference (SMD, with 95% CI/CrI) served as the effect measure. Results: A total of 13 RCTs ( Conclusion: Aquatic exercise is an effective strategy for improving muscle strength in healthy older adults, with its benefits demonstrating significant non-linear dose-response relationships. To maximize efficacy, the optimal recommended protocol consists of 2-3 sessions per week, each lasting approximately 40 min, at a moderate-to-high intensity (Borg RPE 10-12), and should be adopted as a long-term strategy. However, substantial heterogeneity and evidence of publication bias suggest cautious interpretation of pooled effects. Systematic review registration: Identifier: CRD420250654651.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.