The goal of this investigation was to compare functional fitness factors following water and land exercise in elderly men. Thirty elderly men aged 63-70 were randomly selected and divided into two groups. Pre- and post-intervention tests of lower limb muscle s strength, walking ability, lower limb flexibility, static and dynamic balance were conducted. Measures included 30-second chair stand, eight-feet time up and go, chair sit-and-reach test, the Sharpened Romberg Test, Functional Reach Test (FRT), Functional Reach Right (FRR) and Functional Reach Left (FRL) Tests. Next, both groups participated in a water or land exercise program. At pre-test there was no. significant difference between the two groups functional fitness factors (p<0.05); however, at post-test, the groups differed on their functional reach left test with the water exercise group showing better performance than the land exercise group (p<.0.05). There was also significant differences between pre- and post-test results of the water exercise group on all the tests (p<.0.05). The land exercise group showed significant differences from pre- to post-tests on muscle strength, walking ability, static balance with open and closed eyes, FRT, FRR, and FRL (p<.0.05). Although the results support the positive effects of water and land exercise on functional fitness factors for male elders, water exercise proved to be more beneficial than land exercise in improving the elders- physical capability to maintain their body balance.

Keywords