Author(s)

Yoshihiro Yamashina^1*, Tomoko Hirayama¹, Hiroki Aoyama¹, Hirofumi Hori², Emiko Morita¹, Nami Sakagami¹, Wataru Nanikawa¹, Shigeru Terada¹, Masahiro Goto¹, Kazuyuki Tabira³

¹Department of Physical Therapy, Aino University, Osaka, Japan.
²Department of Physical Therapy, Biwako Professional University of Rehabilitation, Shiga, Japan.
³Department of Physical Therapy, Kio University, Nara, Japan.

The aim was to investigate the effect of three water levels (umbilical, 4^th rib, and clavicular) on the respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength among elderly. Spirometry and respiratory strength were measured on land as baseline data. Next, water depth conditions were determined randomly, and spirometry and respiratory muscle strength were measured at each water level. The Vital Capacity and Expiratory reserve volume in the clavicular level were significantly lower than those in the land and umbilical trials. No significant difference was observed in other respiratory functions. Chest circumference and respiratory muscle strength were not significantly different among all conditions.

Respiratory Functions, Respiratory Muscle Strength, Water Immersion, Elderly People

Yamashina, Y. , Hirayama, T. , Aoyama, H. , Hori, H. , Morita, E. , Sakagami, N. , Nanikawa, W. , Terada, S. , Goto, M. and Tabira, K. (2021) Effects of Water Immersion in Different Water Depths on Respiratory Function and Respiratory Muscle Strength among Elderly People: An Observational Study. Advances in Aging Research, 10, 71-77. doi: 10.4236/aar.2021.104004.