Aging leads to physiological changes, as reduction in the chest expansion. Although respiratory exercise is a common physical therapy resource, little is know about its influence on chest expansion, mainly when age-related and performed in an aquatic environment. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of a program of respiratory exercises on chest expansion in healthy aged persons, comparing aquatic versus land environment. METHODS: 59 subjects, between 60 and 65 yearsold had their chest expansion assessed by cirtometry in two levels: axilar and xyphoid. Subjects were randomized into 3 groups. G-aquatic (n = 19) performed a program of aquatic respiratory exercises. G-land (n = 19) performed the same program, but at land. G- control (n = 21) was the control group. Programs were applied 3-times a week, for 10 consecutive weeks and subjects repeated the initial assessment. Baseline and post-test results were compared into each group through t-paired test. T-test and Sign test were used to compare the groups. RESULTS: The groups G-aquatic and G-control improved significantly the chest expansion in both levels assessed (axilar and xyphoid). The G-land group did not change in the post-test. The improvement detected in the G-aquatic was not significant when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Respiratory exercise gets better results if developed in aquatic environment. However, it does not significantly improve the chest expansion, independently where the exercises ae performed (aquatic or non-aquatic).

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