BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) is an important health index for older adults. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 16 weeks of aerobic training to 8 weeks of aerobic followed by 8 weeks of combined (ie, resistance and aerobic exercises) training, as well as to a control group on the QoL of older women exercising in the aquatic environment. METHODS: 52 older women were first randomized to either aerobic training (n = 35) or a control group (n = 17). After 8 weeks of intervention, participants initially assigned to the aerobic training group were again randomized to either 8 additional weeks of aerobic (n = 17) or combined training (n = 18). Aerobic training was performed at the heart rate percentage associated with the anaerobic threshold, while resistance training sets were performed at maximal effort. The control group performed low-intensity water-based therapeutic exercises. QoL was assessed before (week 0) and after the intervention (week 17) using the WHOQOL-BREEF and WHOQOL-OLD questionnaires. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) and Bonferroni post hoc tests (alpha = 0.05) were used to compare time points and groups. RESULTS: QoL improved significantly only in the training groups after the 16-week training intervention, whereas it remained unchanged in the control group. In addition, autonomy, environment, and present, past and future activities domains were more impacted after combined training. CONCLUSION: QoL improved only in the water-based training groups, and the addition of resistance exercises to the training program resulted in additional benefits to autonomy, environment, and past, present, and future activities domains. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials NCT03892278.

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