Arnold C M, Busch A J, Schachter C L, Harrison E L, Olszynski W P
C.M. Arnold, BScPT, MSc, PhD candidate: School of Physical Therapy, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Physiother Can. 2008 Fall;60(4):296-306. doi: 10.3138/physio.60.4.296. Epub 2008 Nov 12.
Despite the decreased gravitational loading that is experienced in an aquatic environment, little research has been conducted on this exercise medium for women with osteoporosis (OP). Aquatic exercise (AE) may improve function and balance, thus ultimately decreasing fall risk and the potential for hip fractures in this high-risk population.
A total of 68 women with OP, aged 60 years or older, were recruited into a randomized clinical trial evaluating the impact of AE, land exercise (LE), and no exercise (NE) on balance, functional mobility, and quality of life (QOL).
Only one balance measure (backward tandem walk) significantly improved with AE compared to LE, but this did not translate into a greater improvement in self-report function. There were no significant differences between the exercise interventions and NE, except for in ratings of global change, where participants in the AE group were three times more likely to report improvement than those in the NE group.
There were no differences in balance, function, or QOL in women with OP who followed an AE or LE programme compared to those in an NE control group. However, the significant differences in backward tandem walk between the AE and LE groups and self-reported global change between the AE and NE groups warrant further investigation. Significant improvements in balance and global change suggest that AE is a viable alternative for older women with OP who have difficulty exercising on land.
尽管在水生环境中所承受的重力负荷会降低，但针对骨质疏松症（OP）女性的这种运动媒介的研究却很少。水上运动（AE）可能会改善功能和平衡能力，从而最终降低这一高危人群的跌倒风险以及髋部骨折的可能性。
总共招募了68名60岁及以上的患有OP的女性，参与一项随机临床试验，该试验评估了AE、陆地运动（LE）以及不运动（NE）对平衡能力、功能性活动能力和生活质量（QOL）的影响。
与LE相比，AE仅一项平衡指标（向后串联行走）有显著改善，但这并未转化为自我报告功能的更大改善。除了在总体变化评分方面，运动干预组与NE组之间没有显著差异，在总体变化评分方面，AE组参与者报告有改善的可能性是NE组的三倍。
与NE对照组的女性相比，遵循AE或LE计划的OP女性在平衡能力、功能或生活质量方面没有差异。然而，AE组和LE组在向后串联行走以及AE组和NE组在自我报告的总体变化方面的显著差异值得进一步研究。平衡能力和总体变化的显著改善表明，AE对于在陆地上难以进行运动的老年OP女性来说是一种可行的选择。
