NCT03679806

Effects Aquatic Exercises on Balance and Hand Function in Multiple Sclerosis

Effects Aquatic Exercises on Balance and Hand Function in Multiple Sclerosis: Halliwick Versus Aquatic Plyometric Exercises

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: Dokuz Eylul University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 45 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study aims to compare and contrast the effects of two different aquatic exercises on postural control and hand functions in people with multiple sclerosis.

Detailed description

Impaired limits of stability causes falls in people with Multiple sclerosis (pwMS) whereas a well-controlled posture provides improved upper limb functions which are limited in almost 75% of pwMS due to weakness, spasticity or tremor. It is an already known fact that hand dexterity is an indicator of fall risk due to neuromuscular causes and/or abnormalities in the corpus callosum in pwMS. Aquatic therapy (AT) provides a safe and effective environment for many therapeutic purposes. It is important to understand the effects of each type, intensity, and duration of the aquatic interventions to accomplish most suitable aquatic exercise program. Halliwick method, neuromotor treatment approach which uses fluid and mechanical properties of water, is based on postural control by mobilizing and controlling body parts through the Ten Point Program. During Aquatic Plyometric Exercises, proximal part of the body needs to be stabilized to generate a sudden and powerful contraction at the distal part and stabilization of the proximal joints is necessary for maintaining distal movements in a coordinated way. It is important to understand the effects of each type, intensity, and duration of the aquatic interventions to accomplish most suitable aquatic exercise program. This study aims to compare and contrast the effects of two different aquatic exercises on postural control and hand function.

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Halliwick	The exercise program was progressed by increasing the speed and the range of motion of the movements. Patients were asked not to accelerate the exercise and to focus on their alignment. Mental adjustment, sagittal rotation, transverse rotation, and combined rotation controls, balances in stillness steps of the Halliwick concept were included.
OTHER	Aquatic Plyometric Exercises	The APE programme was progressed by increasing speed and the range of motion of the movements. Patients were carefully informed not to deform the exercise just to emulate the speed. The three phases of each exercise; eccentric (or loading) phase, the amortization phase, and the concentric (or unloading) phase explained thoroughly at the beginning of every exercise.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-05-01
• Primary completion: 2016-07-01
• Completion: 2016-09-01
• First posted: 2018-09-20
• Last updated: 2018-09-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)