Research Centre for Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal.
School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Dec 16;17(24):9434. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17249434.
Aquatic physiotherapy has been shown to be effective in developing balance, strength, and functional reach over time. When dealing with immediate effects, the literature has concentrated more on the body's physiological response to the physical and mechanical properties of water during passive immersion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a single 45-min active aquatic physiotherapy session on standing balance and strength, and its relationship with functional reach in persons 55 years and older with upper limb dysfunction.
The intervention group ( = 12) was assessed before and after a single aquatic physiotherapy session, while the control group ( = 10) was evaluated before and after 45 min of sitting rest. Functional assessment was made using the visual analogue pain scale (points), step test (repetitions), functional reach test (cm), and global balance-standing test on a force platform (% time). A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was applied ( < 0.05).
The intervention group showed non-significant improvements between measurement before and after the intervention: Pain: 6.2 ± 1.9 vs. 5.2 ± 2.3 cm, steps: 7.0 ± 2.0 vs. 7.4 ± 1.8 repetitions, reach: 9.1 ± 2.8 vs. 10.4 ± 3.8 cm, and balance: 61.7 ± 5.9 vs. 71.3 ± 18.2% time in balance on the platform. The control group showed fewer changes but had better baseline values. A comparison between groups with time showed no significant differences in these changes.
No significant immediate effects were found for one session of aquatic physiotherapy applied to patients older than 55 years with upper limb dysfunction.
水疗已被证明可有效改善平衡、力量和功能活动度。在研究即时效果时，文献主要集中在身体对水的物理和机械特性的生理反应上。本研究旨在评估单次 45 分钟主动水疗对 55 岁及以上上肢功能障碍患者的站立平衡和力量的影响，以及其与功能活动度的关系。
干预组（n=12）在单次水疗前后进行评估，对照组（n=10）在 45 分钟坐姿休息前后进行评估。采用视觉模拟疼痛量表（分）、步测试（重复）、功能活动度测试（cm）和力平台上的整体平衡站立测试（%时间）进行功能评估。采用双向重复测量方差分析（<0.05）。
干预组在干预前后的测量值之间没有显著改善：疼痛：6.2±1.9 与 5.2±2.3cm，步数：7.0±2.0 与 7.4±1.8 次，活动度：9.1±2.8 与 10.4±3.8cm，平衡：61.7±5.9 与 71.3±18.2%时间在平台上平衡。对照组变化较少，但基线值较好。组间时间比较显示这些变化无显著差异。
单次水疗对 55 岁以上上肢功能障碍患者无明显即时效果。
