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Hydrotherapy
and Exercise Help Arthritis Patients
Participation in either a hydrotherapy program or a gym-based
exercise program for just 6 weeks improves the functional
of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). "However, it
seems that hydrotherapy may be more suitable for aerobic-based
exercise programs and the gym-based exercise program more
suitable for strengthening programs," researchers report.
Although previous studies have looked at the benefits of
hydrotherapy resistance exercise for OA, all have suffered
from various flaws in the study design, Dr. Maria Crotty,
from Flinders University in Daws Park, Australia, and colleagues
note in the December issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic
Diseases. Moreover, it is unclear how hydrotherapy compares
with more traditional gym-based exercise.
In a new study, the investigators randomly assigned 105
adults with OA to receive hydrotherapy, gym-based exercise,
or no special training for 6 weeks. In both intervention
groups, sessions were held three times a week and focused
on various strengthening exercises.
The gym group experienced a significant improvement in bilateral
quadriceps (thigh muscle) strength compared with the control
group. The gym group also demonstrated significantly better
strength in the right quadriceps than the hydrotherapy group.
Hydrotherapy provided an improvement in left quadriceps
strength compared with no training.
Compared with no training, hydrotherapy was associated with
an improvement in walking distance and scores on the physical
functioning component of a quality of life scale. The gym
intervention was tied to improvements in walking speed and
patient satisfaction.
Eight-four percent of the hydrotherapy group adhered to
the program, as did 75 percent of the subjects in the gym-based
group, the researchers note. The two groups were also similar
in terms of changes in OA drug use during the study.
"Patients with severe OA who find it painful to bear
weight for extended periods may find that water provides
the appropriate environment in which they can exercise at
intensities that may confer significant health benefits,"
the authors note. However, if the goal is to improve muscle
strength, a land-based program provides the best results,
they add.
SOURCE: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, December 2003.
Article Source: Reuters Health
Article Author: N/A
Net Reference 89
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