The purpose of this current prospective study is to assess and compare the effects of a hydrotherapy exercise programme against a conventional land-based exercise programme in individuals with hemiplegia. Both exercise interventions aim at improving posture, balance and weight-bearing capability. Patients were randomized to the hydrotherapy or conventional therapy groups according to balance function (Berg Balance Scale score) and age (age\<59 and \>60 years). The physical examination consisted of (1) a lower-limb motor function recovery of the paretic side score according to the 6-stage Brunnstrom scale, (2) the hemiplegic limb strength measured by the Motricity Index, (3) the strength of ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors by manual muscle testing, (4) the spasticity of the ankle score by Modified Ashworth Scale, (5) the trunk function through the Trunk Control Test, (6) the postural control assessed by Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients and (7) the functional status measured with the Functional Independence Measure. Postural sway was evaluated with a pressure platform by using the variables of center of pressure (COP) displacements in the mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) directions. The results will be collected and evaluated using statistical programme SPSS.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
The hydrotherapy exercise intervention consisted of 5 minutes of warm-up, 10 minutes of lower-extremity stretching exercises, 10 minutes of lower-extremity strengthening exercises, 20 minutes balance and gait training (water walking, running, side stepping), 5 minutes of a light cool down (marching on the spot), and 10 minutes of gentle stretching in the water.
The conventional exercise intervention used no water-based exercises but land-based exercises. The exercise program consisted of 5 minutes of warm-up, 10 minutes of lower-extremity stretching exercises, 10 minutes of lower-extremity strengthening exercises, 20 minutes balance and gait training (walking, side stepping), 5 minutes of a light cool down, and 10 minutes of gentle stretching out of the water.
University Hospital of Ioannina
Ioannina, Greece
Change of postural and sitting balance at six weeks
Postural balance and weight-bearing ability measured by vertical ground reaction force during standing, sitting and four standing tasks (rising from a chair and weight-shifting forward, backward and laterally)
Time frame: At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks
Change of balance at six weeks
Berg Balance Score
Time frame: At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks
Change of spasticity at six weeks
with ashworth test
Time frame: At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks
Change of leg's strength at 6 weeks
6-stages Brunnstrom scale
Time frame: At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks
Change of trunk control at 6 weeks
Trunk Control Test (TCT)
Time frame: At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks
Change of function at 6 weeks
Functional Indepedence Measure (FIM)
Time frame: At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks
Change of leg's motion at 6 weeks
Motricity Index
Time frame: At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks
Change of posture at 6 weeks
Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patient (PASS)
Time frame: At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks
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