SynthesisFrontiers in public health2025
Effects of aquatic exercise on improving body composition and muscle strength in the older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
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. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Artificial intelligence and robotic surgery in emergency gastrointestinal procedures: a review of current evidence and future directions.Journal of robotic surgery · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Due to the challenges posed by aging such as decreased physical abilities and higher susceptibility to chronic illnesses, effective exercise interventions are crucial for older individuals. Despite the potential benefits of aquatic exercise, there is a lack of robust evidence supporting their efficacy. To address this gap, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in this study to comprehensively assess the impact of aquatic exercise on muscle strength, body composition, and related physical (flexibility, mobility) and metabolic indicators (lipid profiles) in the older adults, aiming to inform the development of intervention strategies. Methods: We searched seven databases (ClinicalTrials.gov, Scopus, Medline, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) from inception to August 1, 2025. Our analysis included 19 Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) ( Results: The meta-analysis findings indicated significant enhancements in muscle strength and flexibility among older adults engaging in aquatic exercise. Additionally, improvements in functional mobility were observed, as evidenced by better performance on the Timed Up and Go test. Moreover, reductions in body fat percentage and total cholesterol levels were observed as notable improvements in metabolic indicators. Nonetheless, the intervention did not yield significant effects on body weight, body mass index, or levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. Conclusion: This review indicates that aquatic exercise may serve as a viable intervention strategy for preserving muscle function, flexibility, and lipid homeostasis in the older adults population, thereby offering a novel perspective on maintaining functional independence. These findings underscore the potential application of aquatic exercise in geriatric care; however, a multicenter study with large sample sizes and long-term follow-up is necessary to further validate the generalizability of the metabolic benefits and long-term safety. Systematic review registration: Identifier CRD42024568443.
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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.