NCT01460277

Τhe Effectiveness of Hydrotherapy Exercises on the Rehabilitation of Hemiplegic Patients

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Ioannina · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 25 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Hemiplegics

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Hydrokinesiotherapy Intervention	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.
PROCEDURE	Land-based exercise intervention	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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-10-01
• Primary completion: 2016-10-01
• Completion: 2016-10-01
• First posted: 2011-10-26
• Last updated: 2019-07-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Greece