Objective: To determine whether a 22 week water exercise program can improve physical functioning in older people.

Methods: The controlled study was conducted with 85 water exercise subjects (mean age 71.8 years) and 44 controls (mean age 76.5 years). The outcome measures were leaning balance, quadriceps strength, reaction time and shoulder range of motion.

Results: At baseline, the groups were well‐matched across most demographic, health and physical performance measures. At retest, the 48 exercise subjects who were available for retest showed significantly improved leaning balance (as measured by tests of maximal balance range and coordinated stability) and shoulder range of motion compared with the controls. The groups did not differ in tests of quadriceps strength and reaction time.

Conclusions: These findings show that water exercise can produce benefits with regard to improving balance and flexibility in older people.