EFFECTS OF DEEP WATER CORE EXERCİSES ON BALANCE AND MUSCLE STRENGTH İN SEDENTARY WOMEN (DWCE)

INVESTİGATİON OF THE EFFECTS OF DEEP WATER CORE STRENGTHENİNG EXERCİSES ON BALANCE AND MUSCLE STRENGTH İN SEDENTARY INDİVİDUALS

The aim of these clinical trials is to investigate the current effects of a 12-week deep-sea exercise program on sedentary, balance, and muscle strength. The key questions the study aimed to answer were:

• Does deep-sea exercise improve the development of sedentary dynamic and static balance?
• Does deep-sea exercise increase upper and lower extremity muscle strength?

Researchers compared an exercise group to a control group to assess exercise performance.

The experimental groups performed deep-sea exercises three times a week for 12 weeks. Dynamic balance, static balance, and muscle strength measurements were assessed at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Balance; Sedantary Activity; Muscle Strength Development; Water- Exercise
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Deep Water Core Exercise

Detailed Description

Background: Aquatic physical exercise is becoming increasingly important in preventing loss of strength and balance caused by sedentary lifestyles, a critical public health issue. Therefore, the effects of deep-water abdominal strengthening exercises on balance and muscle strength in sedentary women were investigated.

Methods: A total of 16 sedentary women volunteered to participate in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups, with an equal number of participants in each group. The experimental group participated in a deep-water abdominal strengthening exercise program three days a week for 12 weeks, while the control group did not participate in any exercise intervention. Participants underwent static and dynamic balance tests at four time points (baseline, weeks 4, 8, and 12), as well as one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength tests for the shoulder, chest, and leg regions.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 16
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Batman
    • Batman, Batman, Turkey (Türkiye), 72000
      • Semi-Olympic Indoor Swimming Pool, Batman Municipality

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:Participant inclusion criteria were: (i) not having suffered any orthopedic injury (fracture, dislocation, serious musculoskeletal injury, etc.) in the past six months, (ii) being able to easily perform the exercises in the pool, (iii) having basic swimming skills to ensure their safety, and (v) committing to fully participating in 12 weeks of exercise programs and measurements.

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Exclusion Criteria:Exclusion criteria are (i) taking any medication that could negatively affect study results and (ii) having a health condition that would prevent them from entering the water (infection, aquaphobia, or skin diseases, etc.). To maintain the study's achievements, participants who missed more than 20% (i.e., 8 or more) of the total exercise sessions during the 12-week intervention period were excluded from the study.

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Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group; The experimental group is undergoing a deep-sea strengthening exercise program three days a week for 12 weeks. The exercise program included water-based core stabilization and strengthening exercises performed in deep water conditions.	Behavioral: Deep Water Core Exercise; Participants underwent a deep-water core strengthening exercise program in a semi-Olympic indoor swimming pool three days a week for 12 weeks under the supervision of researchers. Each exercise session lasted approximately 45 minutes and consisted of warm-up, core strengthening, and cool-down sections. The exercise program was planned according to the principle of progressive loading, and the number of sets and repetitions was gradually increased throughout the process. During the exercise sessions, one instructor actively guided the participants in the pool while another instructor observed and monitored from outside the pool. Adaptation sessions were conducted before the study to ensure the participants adapted to the water. Muscle strength and balance measurements were evaluated at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 12. No exercise-related injuries or adverse events were observed during the study.; Other Names: Aquatic Core Exercise
No Intervention: Control Group; Participants in the control group did not participate in any structured exercise intervention during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assessment of physical activity level (IPAQ)	To assess the physical activity levels of the participants, the International Economic Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) consisting of document and 7 questions was used by Craig et al. The survey includes questions aimed at collecting information about the frequency and duration of low, moderate, and high-intensity physical activity lasting at least 10 minutes over the past 7 days.The amount of energy required for activities is calculated using metabolic equivalents (MET). To evaluate the scale, the MET value of each item is multiplied by the duration and day score to obtain the total physical activity score (METmin/week). A score below 600 indicates low-intensity physical activity, a score between 600 and 3000 indicates moderate-intensity, and a score above 3000 indicates vigorous physical activity	Baseline
Dynamic Balance Performance	Dynamic balance performance was assessed using the Y Balance Test. Participants performed single-leg reach movements on a stable surface in the front, back inward, and back outward directions. During the test, individuals were instructed to hold their hands at hip level and place their heels on the ground. They were also instructed to lightly touch the furthest point of the outstretched leg with their toes. It was stated that the test would be repeated in case of any deviations from the protocol, such as falling, full landing, or the other foot touching the ground. Three trials were performed in each direction, and the average was recorded in centimeters. After recording the measurement data, the percentage maximum reach distance (%MaxD) was normalized according to limb length using the formula: (reach distance/limb length) × 100 = %MAXD. This normalization allows for consistent comparisons, both between right and left limbs and among participants, taking into account variations in li	Baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12
Static Balance	Participants' static balance was determined using the Flamingo balance test. A board measuring 50 cm long, 4 cm high, and 3 cm wide was used to administer the Flamingo balance test. Individuals were instructed to place their preferred foot in the center of the balance platform, keep their knee at maximum flexion with their hand on the same side, and focus on a fixed point at eye level. The test lasted 1 minute (60 seconds), and the duration was monitored with a stopwatch. The stopwatch was started when the individual was ready to maintain balance, and each instance of the individual losing balance and placing their other foot on the ground was recorded as a loss of balance within 60 seconds. During this time, the timer was stopped at each loss of balance, and the individual was allowed to reposition themselves. If the individual experienced more than 15 losses of balance within 30 seconds, the test was terminated early. The balance test was administered to participants three times, an	Baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12
One Repetition Maximum (1RM) Strength	Participants' maximum strength values in the shoulder, chest, and leg regions were obtained using a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test procedure in 3 different exercises (shoulder press, bench press, and leg press). To determine 1RM, participants performed 5 repetitions using an estimated weight. Then, the load was decreased or increased by 3.5-10 kg in each phase until the correct 1RM value was found using the correct technique, and the test continued. The test was terminated when the individual could not complete 5 repetitions, and a 3-5 minute rest period was given between all trials requiring maximum effort to reach 1RM with the final weight between 3 and 5 repetitions. The maximum strength values of the individuals were determined using the following formula: 1RM Formula: 100 x load (kg) / (102.78 - 2.78 x number of repetitions). The weight successfully lifted was recorded as the maximum strength value.	Baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Igdir University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: İbrahim CAN, Professor, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Iğdır University; Study Director: Merve C KARTAL, PhD in Sports Sciences, Batman Municipality Sports Affairs Directorate

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 8, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 3, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): March 3, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 20, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 20, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 20, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Balance; Muscle strength; Aquatic exercise; Core strengthening; Sedentary women; Deep water exercise
• Other Study ID Numbers: DWCE-2024-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared in order to protect participant privacy and confidentiality.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No