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The effect of aquatic therapy on postural balance and muscle strength in stroke survivors — a randomized controlled pilot trial

Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

Jae-Young Lim

Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, drlim1{at}snu.ac.kr, rmljy{at}medimail.co.kr

Hyung-Ik Shin

Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

Nam-Jong Paik

Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an aquatic therapy programme designed to increase balance in stroke survivors.

Design: A randomized, controlled pilot trial.

Setting: Rehabilitation department of a university hospital.

Subjects: Ambulatory chronic stroke patients (n = 25):13 in an aquatic therapy group and 12 in a conventional therapy group.

Interventions: The aquatic therapy group participated in a programme consisting of Ai Chi and Halliwick methods, which focused on balance and weight-bearing exercises. The conventional therapy group performed gym exercises. In both groups, the interventions occurred for 1 hour, three times per week, for eight weeks.

Main measures: The primary outcome measures were Berg Balance Scale score and weight-bearing ability, as measured by vertical ground reaction force during four standing tasks (rising from a chair and weight-shifting forward, backward and laterally). Secondary measures were muscle strength and gait.

Results: Compared with the conventional therapy group, the aquatic therapy group attained significant improvements in Berg Balance Scale scores, forward and backward weight-bearing abilities of the affected limbs, and knee flexor strength (P<0.05), with effect sizes of 1.03, 1.14, 0.72 and 1.13 standard deviation units and powers of 75, 81, 70 and 26%, respectively. There were no significant changes in the other measures between the two groups.

Conclusions: Postural balance and knee flexor strength were improved after aquatic therapy based on the Halliwick and Ai Chi methods in stroke survivors. Because of limited power and a small population base, further studies with larger sample sizes are required.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 22, No. 10-11, 966-976 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0269215508091434


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