Aquatic Verses Land Exercise to Decrease Fall Risk

University of Saskatchewan

Status

Completed

Conditions

Osteoporosis

Treatments

Behavioral: exercise

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00227071

BMC 1999-65

Details and patient eligibility

About

Compare the effect of aquatic,land and no exercise on fall risk factors in women diagnosed with osteoporosis

Full description

Background and Purpose: Fall prevention through exercise is an ongoing goal of researchers and clinicians. This study compared the effects of aquatic exercise (AE), land exercise (LE) and no exercise (NE) on fall risk factors. Subjects: Seventy-three women, 60 or older, with osteoporosis (OP). Method: Randomized clinical trial comparing balance, posture, strength, mobility, function, falls, and quality of life. Results: Significant differences (p<0.05) were found for participants' ratings of global change (AE and LE > NE), tandem balance (AE > LE) and function (LE > AE). Joint pain and falls occurred more often during LE. Discussion and Conclusion: Participants experienced significant global improvement with both AE and LE. Less joint pain, reduced falls and improved balance were found in AE, however LE was more effective in improving functional ability at home. Clinicians should consider the individual's specific impairments and risk factors when recommending exercise programs on land or in water.

Sex

Female

Ages

60+ years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

age 60 or older
diagnosed with osteoporosis
female

Exclusion criteria

has not been involved in regular exercise in past 2 months
does not have any medical or neurological condition that would significantly limit activities of daily living, such that involvement in an exercise program would jeopardize safety