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Warburton M1
1Gateway Physiotherapy, Brisbane, Australia
Background: Case study investigating body composition and mental well-being changes following a course of hydrotherapy with a morbidly obese person.
57 year-old Lady, independently mobile with three stable chronic conditions.
Baseline measures were: Body weight (BW) 110.8kg's; Body fat (BF) % 52.5; mental well-being 47/70 on the Warwick-Edinburgh Well-Being Scale (WEWBS).
Physical activity is an important part of weight management with the obese population and hydrotherapy may be a suitable and effective exercise environment to safely undertake physical activity, especially when land-based activities are unfeasible.
Buoyancy, warmth, pressure, viscosity and turbulence are elements of hydrotherapy that offer the obese a unique hydro-therapeutic experience to execute a physical activity program for weight management and well-being benefits.
Purpose: The purpose of this case study was to establish if any measurable benefits could be achieved from hydrotherapy with a morbidly obese person.
Methods: Hydrotherapy was provided for 8-weeks, 2xweek, 45-minute session duration.
Pool temperature 32.5 degrees centigrade. Pool length 20-metres.
Sessions included pool mobility, encouragement and supervision, warm up/cool down, continuous and high intensity interval training, body weight exercises of large muscle groups and stretching exercises.
Outcomes were completed weeks 0 and 8 via measuring BW on weigh scales, BF % via DEXA, and mental well-being using the WEWBS.
Results: BW, BF% and mental well-being all improved. BW decreased to 106.0kg's (-4.3%); BF % decreased to 50.7% (-3.4%) and mental well-being improved 21 points to 68/70 on the WEWBS.
Conclusion(s): Hydrotherapy can be a beneficial hydro-therapeutic option for the obese when land-based activity is unfeasible.
It provides a relatively safe environment for mobility and exercise, and allows physical activity to be undertaken for weight management and well-being benefits - important for the obese population.
Implications: Hydrotherapy can be a measurable and beneficial therapeutic exercise option for the obese population.
Keywords: Hydrotherapy, Obesity, Aquatic Physiotherapy
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was requested or received for this project.
57 year-old Lady, independently mobile with three stable chronic conditions.
Baseline measures were: Body weight (BW) 110.8kg's; Body fat (BF) % 52.5; mental well-being 47/70 on the Warwick-Edinburgh Well-Being Scale (WEWBS).
Physical activity is an important part of weight management with the obese population and hydrotherapy may be a suitable and effective exercise environment to safely undertake physical activity, especially when land-based activities are unfeasible.
Buoyancy, warmth, pressure, viscosity and turbulence are elements of hydrotherapy that offer the obese a unique hydro-therapeutic experience to execute a physical activity program for weight management and well-being benefits.
Purpose: The purpose of this case study was to establish if any measurable benefits could be achieved from hydrotherapy with a morbidly obese person.
Methods: Hydrotherapy was provided for 8-weeks, 2xweek, 45-minute session duration.
Pool temperature 32.5 degrees centigrade. Pool length 20-metres.
Sessions included pool mobility, encouragement and supervision, warm up/cool down, continuous and high intensity interval training, body weight exercises of large muscle groups and stretching exercises.
Outcomes were completed weeks 0 and 8 via measuring BW on weigh scales, BF % via DEXA, and mental well-being using the WEWBS.
Results: BW, BF% and mental well-being all improved. BW decreased to 106.0kg's (-4.3%); BF % decreased to 50.7% (-3.4%) and mental well-being improved 21 points to 68/70 on the WEWBS.
Conclusion(s): Hydrotherapy can be a beneficial hydro-therapeutic option for the obese when land-based activity is unfeasible.
It provides a relatively safe environment for mobility and exercise, and allows physical activity to be undertaken for weight management and well-being benefits - important for the obese population.
Implications: Hydrotherapy can be a measurable and beneficial therapeutic exercise option for the obese population.
Keywords: Hydrotherapy, Obesity, Aquatic Physiotherapy
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was requested or received for this project.
Topic: Professional practice: other; Professional practice: other
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: Gateway Physiotherapy
Ethics committee: Michael Warburton
Reason not required: Single case study. Written permission obtained from the subject.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
