Article

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of aquatic resistance training on mobility,
muscle power, and cross-sectional area. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.
SETTING: Research laboratory and hospital rehabilitation pool. PARTICIPANTS:
Population-based sample (N=50) of eligible women and men 55 to 75 years old 4 to
18 months after unilateral knee replacement with no contraindications who were
willing to participate in the trial. INTERVENTIONS: Twelve-week progressive
aquatic resistance training (n=26) or no intervention (n=24). MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: Mobility limitation assessed by walking speed and stair ascending time,
and self-reported physical functional difficulty, pain, and stiffness assessed by
Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)
questionnaire. Knee extensor power and knee flexor power assessed isokinetically,
and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) by computed tomography. RESULTS:
Compared with the change in the control group, habitual walking speed increased
by 9% (P=.005) and stair ascending time decreased by 15% (P=.006) in the aquatic
training group. There was no significant difference between the groups in the
WOMAC scores. The training increased knee extensor power by 32% (P<.001) in the
operated and 10% (P=.001) in the nonoperated leg, and knee flexor power by 48%
(P=.003) in the operated and 8% (P=.002) in the nonoperated leg compared with
controls. The mean increase in thigh muscle CSA of the operated leg was 3%
(P=.018) and that of the nonoperated leg 2% (P=.019) after training compared with
controls. CONCLUSIONS: Progressive aquatic resistance training had favorable
effects on mobility limitation by increasing walking speed and decreasing stair
ascending time. In addition, training increased lower limb muscle power and
muscle CSA. Resistance training in water is a feasible mode of rehabilitation
that has wide-ranging positive effects on patients after knee replacement
surgery.
CI - Copyright 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS