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CompletedNCT07784205Updated Aug 27, 2026

Land vs. Water Exercises on Performance and Swimming Behavior in Older Adults

An interventional study of 8-Week Beach and Aquatic Exercise Intervention in Healthy Aging, Exercise Therapy and Resistance Training, sponsored by Eskisehir Technical University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 62 Years to 86 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-27.

Sponsored by Eskisehir Technical University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
180
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
62 Years to 86 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study aims to investigate the effects of an 8-week combined land and aquatic exercise program (conducted 3 days per week) on physical performance, recreational swimming behaviors, and water-related risk perceptions in older adults. Physical performance is evaluated using handgrip strength and the 30-second chair sit-up test (30CST), while swimming behaviors and water-related risk perceptions are assessed via structured questionnaires.

Read the detailed description

This study investigates the effects of an 8-week structured land and shallow-water exercise program on physical performance, recreational swimming behaviors, and aquatic risk perceptions in older adults.

Study Design and Procedures:

Intervention: Participants participate in a progressive, 8-week exercise program conducted three times per week, combining land-based conditioning and shallow-water aquatic activities.

Physical Assessments: Lower-body functional strength is evaluated using the 30-second chair sit-up test (30CST), and upper-body isometric strength is measured via handgrip dynamometry.

Behavioral and Safety Assessments: Standardized questionnaires are administered before and after the intervention to assess swimming frequency, duration, distance, self-reported risky water behaviors, and fall-related anxiety during water entry and exit.

The primary objective is to evaluate functional fitness changes and determine how physical conditioning interacts with safety perceptions and behavioral choices in aquatic environments among older adults.

02

Conditions studied

  • Healthy Aging
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Resistance Training
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Swimming
  • Muscle Strength
  • Aged
  • Accidental Falls
  • Risk Reduction Behavior

Keywords

  • Active aging
  • fall risk
  • water safety
  • muscle strength
  • aquatic exercise
  • recreational swimming
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
62 Years to 86 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older

Able to participate independently in land and shallow-water exercise programs

Able to understand and respond to survey questions and assessment protocols

Willing to provide written informed consent prior to study participation

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Presence of severe or unstable cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic conditions contraindicating moderate exercise

Acute or severe orthopedic, musculoskeletal, or neurological impairments restricting participation in physical testing or exercise sessions

Open skin lesions, severe infectious diseases, or incontinence preventing participation in aquatic activities

Severe cognitive impairment precluding comprehension of instructions or safe execution of exercise protocols

04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
180 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Experimental: Land and Aquatic Exercise Group

    Older adult volunteers (aged 62-86 years) who underwent an 8-week, 24-session land- and aquatic-based exercise program 3 days per week (30 minutes per session) on sand and in shallow sea water. Physical performance, swimming behaviors, and risk perceptions were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

    Behavioral: 8-Week Beach and Aquatic Exercise Intervention

Interventions

  • Behavioral8-Week Beach and Aquatic Exercise Intervention

    An 8-week, 24-session multi-component exercise intervention conducted 3 days per week (30 minutes per session) on sand/beach and in shallow sea water. The program consists of three structured components:Warm-up (5 minutes): Slow walking and joint mobilization on sand/land. Main Resistance \& Aquatic Training (20 minutes): Land-based bodyweight exercises (squats, knee push-ups, brisk walking on sand) combined with shallow sea-water resistance exercises (high knees in all four directions at waist level, arm/shoulder extension and flexion against water resistance). Routine Water Activity \& Cool-Down (5 minutes): Controlled water entry/exit practice followed by static stretching on land.

    Also known as: Combined Beach and Water Resistance Training

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Lower Extremity Muscle Strength (30-Second Chair Stand Test)

    Measured using the 30-Second Chair Sit-to-Stand Test (30CST) to assess functional lower extremity muscle strength and endurance. Participants sit in a 43.2 cm armless chair with arms crossed over the chest and complete as many full sit-to-stands as possible in 30 seconds. Higher scores indicate better physical performance.

    Time frame: Baseline (Pre-test) and 8 Weeks (Post-test)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Swimming Behaviors Score

    Evaluated using a 4-item questionnaire. Items assess weekly swimming frequency, single-session duration, continuous swimming distance, and years of experience on the beach. Total score ranges from 4 to 20, with higher scores representing more active swimming behavior.

    Time frame: Baseline (Pre-test) and 8 Weeks (Post-test)

06

Study locations

1 site
  • Eskişehir Technical University
    Eskişehir, Tepebaşi 26100, Turkey (Türkiye)
07

References and documents

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Jan 15, 2025

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — De-identified individual participant data will not be shared publicly due to privacy and confidentiality restrictions agreed upon during the informed consent process, as well as institutional ethics protocol limitations regarding participant data governance.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07784205
Lead sponsor
Eskisehir Technical University
Collaborators
Bozok University
Responsible party
Celil Kaçoğlu (Associate Professor / Principal Investigator, Eskisehir Technical University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 25, 2026
Start date
Jan 1, 2026
Primary completion
Aug 11, 2026
Completion
Aug 11, 2026
Last update
Aug 27, 2026

Study contacts

celil kaçoğlu
study director · Eskişehir Teknik Üniversitesi

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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