OBJECTIVES: Bone fracture is the most common and dangerous result of falling (9,000,000 people/year worldwide), which can result in an immobile and disabled state with long therapy, complications, deterioration in quality of life and high mortality rate. This rate is around 30.4-31.0% in Hungary, which is high in international comparison. A broad range of preventive balance trainings are used among old people and patients with neurological or musculoskeletal disorders. Our aim is to assess the preventive role of a three-month long subaqual training among women with osteoporosis.

METHODS: A quantitative, randomized longitudinal study was conducted. Female patients were selected, who were >50 years old, got diagnosed with densitometry measurements (T-Score ≤–2.5 in femoral or lumbar region), had >24 points on Mini Mental State Examination, fell at least once or had high risk of falling within a year and agreed to participate in the study (n=20). We assessed with Falls Efficacy Scale International, Timed Up&Go, Functional Reach and Standing Balance tests. Participants were doing subaqual training with medium intensity (Borg scale: 12-24) for 12 weeks, 60 minutes three times a week. Patients then were examined at the end of, and three months after therapy. Comparing results was done by independent samples t-test (p=0.05), with SPSS software.

RESULTS: Mean age was 66±5.69 years (min=59, max= 69). Significant improvements were found in every variable (p<0.001) except for Standing Balance test (p=0.629). However, the effect of the training could not be detected after three months, only in Functional Reach test results (p=0.007).

CONCLUSIONS: Underwater exercise programs have positive effect on decreasing the risk of falling and improving functional movement among women with osteoporosis.