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Sekome K1
1University of the Witwatersrand, Physiotherapy, Parktown, South Africa
Background: People living with knee osteoarthritis commonly present with difficulty in walking long distances, ascending and descending stairs or rising from sitting. These functional limitations have been shown to have a negative effect on their overall activities of daily living.
Purpose: To determine the effects of a four-week hydrotherapy programme on measures of pain and self-perceived functional status in individuals living with knee osteoarthritis.
Methods: Eighteen participants with chronic knee osteoarthritis participated in this study. Participants completed four weeks of hydrotherapeutic intervention. Outcome measures were assessed before and after the intervention. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and self-perceived functional status was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).
Results: The four-week hydrotherapy programme resulted in a significant decrease in measures of pain and a significant improvement in self-perceived functional status in all participants. There was a statistically significant mean decrease in VAS scores of M = 3.722, SD = 2.445, p≤ 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 2.506 to 4.938. There was also a statistically significant mean decrease in WOMAC scores of M = 29.500, SD = 15.508, p ≤ 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 21.788 to 37.212
Conclusion(s): This study demonstrated that a four-week hydrotherapeutic exercise program results in significantly reduced pain and improved self-perceived functional status in individuals living with knee osteoarthritis.
Implications: Four weeks of hydrotherapy exercises twice a week can significantly reduce pain and improve functional status in elderly with knee osteoarthritis.
Keywords: hydrotherapy, pain, osteoarthritis
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was provided for this study.
Purpose: To determine the effects of a four-week hydrotherapy programme on measures of pain and self-perceived functional status in individuals living with knee osteoarthritis.
Methods: Eighteen participants with chronic knee osteoarthritis participated in this study. Participants completed four weeks of hydrotherapeutic intervention. Outcome measures were assessed before and after the intervention. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and self-perceived functional status was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).
Results: The four-week hydrotherapy programme resulted in a significant decrease in measures of pain and a significant improvement in self-perceived functional status in all participants. There was a statistically significant mean decrease in VAS scores of M = 3.722, SD = 2.445, p≤ 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 2.506 to 4.938. There was also a statistically significant mean decrease in WOMAC scores of M = 29.500, SD = 15.508, p ≤ 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 21.788 to 37.212
Conclusion(s): This study demonstrated that a four-week hydrotherapeutic exercise program results in significantly reduced pain and improved self-perceived functional status in individuals living with knee osteoarthritis.
Implications: Four weeks of hydrotherapy exercises twice a week can significantly reduce pain and improve functional status in elderly with knee osteoarthritis.
Keywords: hydrotherapy, pain, osteoarthritis
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was provided for this study.
Topic: Musculoskeletal: lower limb; Disability & rehabilitation
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of KwaZulu-Natal
Ethics committee: Biomedical Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: SHSEC 031/12
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
