Hemiplegics
Conditions
Keywords
hemiplegic, balance, hydrotherapy
Brief summary
The purpose of this current prospective study is to assess and compare the effects of a hydrotherapy exercise programme against a conventional land-based exercise programme in individuals with hemiplegia. Both exercise interventions aim at improving posture, balance and weight-bearing capability. Patients were randomized to the hydrotherapy or conventional therapy groups according to balance function (Berg Balance Scale score) and age (age\<59 and \>60 years). The physical examination consisted of (1) a lower-limb motor function recovery of the paretic side score according to the 6-stage Brunnstrom scale, (2) the hemiplegic limb strength measured by the Motricity Index, (3) the strength of ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors by manual muscle testing, (4) the spasticity of the ankle score by Modified Ashworth Scale, (5) the trunk function through the Trunk Control Test, (6) the postural control assessed by Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients and (7) the functional status measured with the Functional Independence Measure. Postural sway was evaluated with a pressure platform by using the variables of center of pressure (COP) displacements in the mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) directions. The results will be collected and evaluated using statistical programme SPSS.
Interventions
PROCEDUREHydrokinesiotherapy Intervention
The hydrotherapy exercise intervention consisted of 5 minutes of warm-up, 10 minutes of lower-extremity stretching exercises, 10 minutes of lower-extremity strengthening exercises, 20 minutes balance and gait training (water walking, running, side stepping), 5 minutes of a light cool down (marching on the spot), and 10 minutes of gentle stretching in the water.
PROCEDURELand-based exercise intervention
The conventional exercise intervention used no water-based exercises but land-based exercises. The exercise program consisted of 5 minutes of warm-up, 10 minutes of lower-extremity stretching exercises, 10 minutes of lower-extremity strengthening exercises, 20 minutes balance and gait training (walking, side stepping), 5 minutes of a light cool down, and 10 minutes of gentle stretching out of the water.
Sponsors
University of Ioannina
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* hemiplegia or hemiparesis after stroke or traumatic brain injury * at least 6 months post-stroke from a single cerebrovascular accident * independent in walking (with or without assistive device) * clinical stable
Exclusion criteria
* unstable cardiac conditions * epilepsy * urinary or faecal incontinence * open wounds * significant musculoskeletal problems in lower extremities from conditions other than stroke * Alzheimer * Parkinson's disease * polyneuropathy * vestibular disorders * current participation in an exercise program
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change of postural and sitting balance at six weeks | At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks | Postural balance and weight-bearing ability measured by vertical ground reaction force during standing, sitting and four standing tasks (rising from a chair and weight-shifting forward, backward and laterally) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change of spasticity at six weeks | At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks | with ashworth test |
| Change of leg's strength at 6 weeks | At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks | 6-stages Brunnstrom scale |
| Change of trunk control at 6 weeks | At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks | Trunk Control Test (TCT) |
| Change of balance at six weeks | At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks | Berg Balance Score |
| Change of leg's motion at 6 weeks | At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks | Motricity Index |
| Change of posture at 6 weeks | At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks | Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patient (PASS) |
| Change of function at 6 weeks | At the time of admittance to the rehabilitation department (at baseline) and after six weeks | Functional Indepedence Measure (FIM) |
Countries
Greece
Outcome results
None listed