Abstract | OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of hydrotherapy on walking ability and balance in patients with chronic stroke. DESIGN: Single-blind, randomized controlled pilot trial. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation clinic at a tertiary neurological hospital in China. SUBJECTS: A total of 28 participants with impairments in walking and controlling balance more than six months post- stroke. INTERVENTION: After baseline evaluations, participants were randomly assigned to a land-based therapy (control group, n = 14) or hydrotherapy (study group, n = 14). Participants underwent individual sessions for four weeks, five days a week, for 45 minutes per session. MAIN MEASURES: After four weeks of rehabilitation, all participants were evaluated by a blinded assessor. Functional assessments included the Functional Reach Test, Berg Balance Scale, 2-minute walk test, and Timed Up and Go Test. RESULTS: After four weeks of treatment, the Berg Balance Scale, functional reach test, 2-minute walk test, and the Timed Up and Go Test scores had improved significantly in each group (P < 0.05). The mean improvement of the functional reach test and 2-minute walk test were significantly higher in the aquatic group than in the control group (P < 0.01). The differences in the mean values of the improvements in the Berg Balance Scale and the Timed Up and Go Test were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that a relatively short programme (four weeks) of hydrotherapy exercise resulted in a large improvement in a small group (n = 14) of individuals with relatively high balance and walking function following a stroke.
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Authors | Zhizhong Zhu, Liling Cui, Miaomiao Yin, Yang Yu, Xiaona Zhou, Hongtu Wang, Hua Yan |
Journal | Clinical rehabilitation
(Clin Rehabil)
Vol. 30
Issue 6
Pg. 587-93
(Jun 2016)
ISSN: 1477-0873 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 26130657
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Copyright | © The Author(s) 2015. |
Topics |
- China
- Exercise Therapy
(methods)
- Female
- Gait Disorders, Neurologic
(etiology, rehabilitation)
- Humans
- Hydrotherapy
(methods)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
- Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
- Postural Balance
(physiology)
- Sensation Disorders
(etiology, rehabilitation)
- Stroke
(complications)
- Stroke Rehabilitation
(methods)
- Walking
(physiology)
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