Many researches of aqua exercise, one of effective management for arthritis patients to reduce pain and distortion of joint have been done. Actually in America water exercise programs have been actively practiced for arthritis patients. However the study and practice of water exercise can not be found easily in Korea. Considering that the effectiveness of aqua exercise has been evidently confirmed, the exercise should be fully utilized. Under this circumstance, we provide basic data for aqua exercise program through the research on the needs of water exercise and characteristics of arthritis patients. Summerising the result of this study, the primary needs of aqua exercise is to get additional effect of medical treatment for the patients, especially unsatisfied patients to the medical treatment. The level of needs shows very high as of 57.3% of total sample. The strength of needs has relation to economic status and sociality. Hospitals and health centers should develop aqua exercise program not as a simple physical exercise but as a medical management for arthritis patients. Institutional base must be prepared for the patients, who have weak economic, physical and social ability, to easily access to the benificial exercise.