Effects of land- and water-based exercise programmes on postural balance in individuals with COPD: additional results from a randomised clinical trial. Issue Volume 107:Issue (2020) (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Castro, Larissa A.; Felcar, Josiane M.; de Carvalho, Débora R.; Vidotto, Laís S.; da Silva, Rubens A.; Pitta, Fabio; Probst, Vanessa S.
• Is Part Of: Physiotherapy. Volume 107:Issue (2020)
• Page Start: 58
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: Accidental falls -- Chronic -- Obstructive pulmonary disease -- Exercise therapy -- Hydrotherapy -- Postural balance; Physical therapy -- Periodicals; Therapeutics, Physiological -- Periodicals; 615.8205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2019.08.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-9406

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effects of water-based exercise training on postural balance in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and compare the effects of two similar protocols of land- and water-based exercise programmes on postural balance in this population. Design: Randomised clinical trial. Setting: University-based, outpatient, physical therapy clinic. Subjects: Fifty individuals with COPD. Interventions: Participants were assigned at random to the land group (LG; n = 27) or the water group (WG; n = 23), and underwent high-intensity endurance and strength training three times per week for 3 months. Main outcome measures: Functional balance was assessed by the timed up and go test (TUG), and static balance was assessed with a force platform in the following conditions: standing with feet hip-width apart and eyes open; standing with feet hip-width apart and eyes closed; standing on a short base; and one-legged stance. Results: Seventeen subjects completed the intervention in the LG {nine males, mean age 64 [standard deviation (SD) 8] years, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ) 48 (SD 17) %predicted} compared with 14 subjects in the WG [nine males, mean age 65 (SD 8) years, FEV1 51 (SD 15) %predicted]. Water-based exercise training had a positive effect on functional balance [TUG: mean difference −1.17 (−1.93 to −0.41 95% confidence interval) seconds; P = 0.006], whereas static balance remained unaltered for both groups. There was no between-group difference in postural balance after exercise training; however, a higher proportion of participants who had a clinically relevant improvement in the TUG were in the WG (LG 35%, WG 64%; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Functional balance improved after 3 months of high-intensity exercise training performed in water. Despite the environment, non-specific training seems to be insufficient to improve static balance. Clinical trial registration number: clinicalTrials.gov NCT01691131.