Osteoporosis is considered a common metabolic bone disease and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. In this context, physical activity has been used as a non-pharmacological tool for prevention and auxiliary treatment of this disease. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of cycling and swimming practice on bone mineral density (BMD). This research was conducted in accordance with the recommendations outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The studies were consulted in the period from 2004 to 2014, through major electronic databases: PubMed(®), SciELO(®) and LILACS(®). Ten studies evaluated the effects of cycling on BMD, and the results showed that nine studies have linked the practice of professional cycling with low levels of BMD. Another 18 studies have reported that swimming has no positive effects on bone mass. We conclude that cycling and swimming do not cause positive effects on BMD; thus, these are not the most suitable exercises for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

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Osteoporosis is considered a common metabolic bone disease and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. In this context, physical activity has been used as a non-pharmacological tool for prevention and auxiliary treatment of this disease. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of cycling and swimming practice on bone mineral density (BMD). This research was conducted in accordance with the recommendations outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The studies were consulted in the period from 2004 to 2014, through major electronic databases: PubMed, SciELO and LILACS. Ten studies evaluated the effects of cycling on BMD, and the results showed that nine studies have linked the practice of professional cycling with low levels of BMD. Another 18 studies have reported that swimming has no positive effects on bone mass. We conclude that cycling and swimming do not cause positive effects on BMD; thus, these are not the most suitable exercises for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

A prática frequente de hidroginástica na terceira idade é capaz de promover modificações morfológicas, sociais e fisiológicas. Em contrapartida, a inatividade física, assim como o processo de envelhecimento, estão associadas à redução da capacidade funcional, dentre as capacidades funcionais, temos a velocidade da marcha que é um dos movimentos humanos mais comuns, sendo resultado da interação dos sistemas nervoso e osteomuscular, de acordo com os estudos analisados, os exercícios físicos são uma maneira eficiente de prevenção e redução dessas perdas provenientes no decurso de envelhecimento, de modo que a hidroginástica promove modificações funcionais e articulares, beneficiando a velocidade marcha do indivíduo. Deste modo, o presente estudo possui a finalidade de identificar a influência da hidroginástica na velocidade da marcha em idosos. A presente pesquisa foi realizada em três bases de dados (PubMed, BVS e Scielo), com a finalidade de coletar dados científicos para embasar este estudo. Verificou-se nesta revisão uma escassez de estudos que relacionam diretamente os exercícios aquáticos com a velocidade da marcha em pessoas idosas, evidenciando a necessidade da realização de mais pesquisas nesta área, aumentando assim o arcabouço científico voltado para este tema.