Effects Aquatic Exercises on Balance and Hand Function in Multiple Sclerosis

Dokuz Eylül University (DEU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting

Treatments: Other: Aquatic Plyometric Exercises; Other: Halliwick

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03679806

msdexerity

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 45 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• EDSS>6
• volunteered

Exclusion criteria

• Clinical relapse within three months
• incontinence
• persistent infection

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Halliwick

Experimental group

Description:

Exercises were performed in a private pool owned by the local MS society twice in a week for 8 weeks. Pool depth was 120 cm 30-31°C Mental adjustment, sagittal rotation, transverse rotation, and combined rotation controls, balances in stillness steps of the Halliwick concept were included.

Treatment:

Other: Halliwick

Aquatic Plyometric Exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Exercises were performed in a private pool owned by the local MS society twice in a week for 8 weeks. Pool depth was 120 cm 30-31°C. The three phases of each exercise; eccentric (or loading) phase, the amortization phase, and the concentric (or unloading) phase included.

Treatment:

Other: Aquatic Plyometric Exercises