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Background: Many studies have sought to assess the effects of physical exercise on older people, but there is little scientific evidence concerning its effects on subjects’ quality of life and cognitive function. Besides, there is a need to know how well the elderly can tolerate combined exercise programs of great intensity and frequency, without risking their health. Objectives: To determine whether older people are able to do a high-intensity combined program of physical exercise, and to analyze its effects at a conditional, cognitive and functional level as well as on their quality of life. Methods: Sixty-two community-dwelling women older than 65 took part in a randomized trial, with subjects assigned to a combined program of aquatic exercise plus high-intensity strength training (group 1), or plus calisthenic training (group 2). Group 2 training consisted of several aerobic, mobility and flexibility exercises; group 1 training consisted of 7 exercises targeting the major muscle groups of the body, performed on exercise machines at an intensity of 75% of 1 repetition maximum. Both groups trained 5 days a week during 5 months. Quality of life, cognitive function, and functional level were assessed by means of validated questionnaires. Conditional evaluations included static and dynamic strength, balance, flexibility, and aerobic capacity. Results: No participant withdrew for adverse effects during the program or at the end. Both groups obtained a significant improvement in their quality of life and cognitive function, as well as in their balance and flexibility level, whereas only group 1 improved their static and dynamic strength significantly. Conclusion: Older women can take part in high-frequency, high-intensity training programs with no risk to their health while experiencing improvements to their quality of life, cognitive function, degree of independence and physical fitness.

Background/Aims: This pilot study aims to analyse the potential benefits of an aquatic exercise programme on the health-related physical fitness and quality of life of people with Down syndrome, as well as to identify the impact that such a programme might have on the self-perceived quality of life of their parents/caregivers. Methods: A total of 14 adults (mean age 37±7.24 years) carried out an aquatic exercise programme for 3 months. Health-related physical fitness and self-perceived quality of life were assessed by means of the Assessing the Levels of Physical Activity and Fitness battery and the World Health Organization Quality of life Questionnaire, respectively. Findings: No significant impact of the programme was observed on any of the variables tested. Conclusions: There was no evidence to support that water-based exercise might be a useful exercise intervention to improve health-related physical fitness and quality of life in adults with Down syndrome. The self-perceived quality of life of the parents/caregivers did not seem to be affected by this kind of intervention either. Future randomised controlled studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these findings.

Some basic guidelines about how to prescribe physical exercise in Crohn's disease can be provided. However, more research is needed as few studies have been carried out so far.

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