Effects of Aquatic Intervention on Fall Risk, Hazard Perception, Calendar Planning and Brain Activity During Elderly

Normal aging is associated with balance, mobility and executive functions decline that increase fall risk and influence Activity of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental ADL (IADL) functions such as safe road-crossing, planning and organizing everyday activities. Changes in cerebellar functional plasticity may mediate between the decline in balance, mobility and executive functions during elderly. Fortunately, mounting evidence suggests that physical activity is beneficial for decreasing aging effects and optimize brain structure and function. According to the dynamic systems theory, the environment in which the physical activity occurs influences the results of the activity. We propose an aquatic physical intervention program as a tool to decrease aging effects that in turn might lower fall risk, increase safety of road-crossing and improve planning and organizing everyday activities among community-dwelling older individuals.