The effect of water-based exercises on balance in persons post-stroke: A randomized controlled trial

I loved my water based therapy that I did on my own at the 'Y'. The hospital pool was closed years prior to my stroke.  When I was in Ecuador I did several sessions of therapy just standing in knee deep water and adjusting to the waves pounding my legs. By putting my impaired leg in front and standing sideways I could get to mid-thigh water and still stay upright.
https://search.naric.com/research/rehab/redesign_record.cfm?search=2&type=all&criteria=J78153&phrase=no&rec=136185&article_source=Rehab&international=0&international_language=&international_location=
Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation , Volume 24(4) , Pgs. 228-235.

NARIC Accession Number: J78153.  What's this?
ISSN: 1074-9357.
Author(s): Chan, Kelvin; Phadke, Chetan P.; Stremler, Denise; Suter, Lynn; Pauley, Tim; Ismail, Farooq; Boulias, Chris.
Publication Year: 2017.
Number of Pages: 8.
Abstract: Study examined the effect of water-based exercises compared to land-based exercises on the balance of stroke patients discharged inpatient neurological rehabilitation and referred to outpatient physical therapy. Thirty-two patients with first-time stroke were randomized into water-based plus land (WL) or land only (L) exercise groups. Both groups attended therapy two times per week for six weeks. Initial and progression protocols for the water-based exercises (a combination of balance, stretching, and strengthening, and endurance training) and land therapy (balance, strength, transfer, gait, and stair training) were devised. Outcome measures included the Berg Balance Score, Community Balance and Mobility Score, Timed Up and Go Test, and 2-Minute Walk Test. Baseline characteristics of the WL and L groups were similar in age, side of stroke, time since stroke, and wait time between inpatient discharge and outpatient therapy on all four outcome measures. Pooled change scores from all outcomes showed that significantly greater number of patients in the WL group showed improvement post-training compared to the L group. More patients in the WL group showed change scores exceeding the published minimal detectable change scores. The results indicate that a combination of water- and land-based exercises has potential for improving balance. The findings of this study extend the research showing benefit of water-based exercise in chronic and less-impaired stroke groups to patients with sub-acute stroke.
Descriptor Terms: AMBULATION, EQUILIBRIUM, EXERCISE, MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS, PHYSICAL THERAPY, POSTURE, STROKE.


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Citation: Chan, Kelvin, Phadke, Chetan P., Stremler, Denise, Suter, Lynn, Pauley, Tim, Ismail, Farooq, Boulias, Chris. (2017). The effect of water-based exercises on balance in persons post-stroke: A randomized controlled trial.  Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation , 24(4), Pgs. 228-235. Retrieved 4/19/2018, from REHABDATA database.


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More information about this publication:
Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation.