Aquatic Exercise for Pain Reduction in the Active Adult With Osteoarthritis. Issue 2 (2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stover, Alexandra; Smith, Crystal; Maloney, Joshua; Mitchell, Carmen; Michaels, Natalie; Jones, Timothy; Raynes, Edilberto
• Is Part Of: Journal of aquatic physical therapy. Volume 23:Issue 2(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015
• Subjects: Aquatic -- Water -- Exercise -- Arthritis -- Joint mobility -- Pain; Hydrotherapy -- Periodicals; Physical therapy -- Periodicals; 615.853
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2377-6102

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Purpose. : Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the world, becoming more prevalent in the growing population of older adults. The literature demonstrates the effectiveness of aquatic exercise in this population for improving mobility and endurance, but there is little evidence in the literature focusing on the results of aquatic exercise on joint pain reduction for active older adults with OA. This research utilized data collected during an aquatic exercise program to help determine whether or not aquatic exercise is an appropriate intervention to reduce arthritic pain in the older adult. Methods. : This study was a pre and posttest quasi‐experimental design conducted at the Del Webb Retirement Community pool in Mount Juliet, Tennessee by physical therapy students from Tennessee State University. A total of 12 active older adult participants (9 females and 3 males) with OA completed the program, ranging in age from 56 to 72 years. The total length of this study was 8 weeks, consisting of two 1‐hour classes per week. Each class began with a 5‐minute warm‐up followed by a 50‐minute routine focusing on cardiovascular endurance, major muscle group strengthening, flexibility, balance, and coordination, and concluded with a 5 minute cool‐down. Approval was granted by the Tennessee State University Institutional Review Board. All participants completed a waiver of informed consent, as well as a demographic survey at baseline. Two‐handed pain‐free functional reach measurements were taken using a tape measure attached to the wall for recording the better of 2 trials before and after the 8‐week course. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the visual analog scale (VAS) were used to determine the self‐reported level of pain. Results. : A statistically significant difference between the pre and postcourse VAS was found using the Wilcoxon signed rank test for the nonparametric data (at the .05 level; P = .025). A statistically significant difference was also found at the .05 level ( P = .031) for pre and postcourse pain‐free functional reach using paired t tests. Although there was improvement when comparing pre and postscores on the WOMAC, this was not statistically significant. Based on the results of this study and the verbal reports from the participants, the aquatics program used in this study appears to have decreased joint pain from arthritis, and as a result, improved functional mobility for the participants involved. Further research is recommended to help determine the long‐term effects of the program as well as the specifics of functional improvement.