Aquatic Power Training

NCT ID: NCT00904319

Last Updated: 2010-06-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 81 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2009-04-30
• Study Completion Date: 2009-12-31

Brief Summary

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) accounts for a significant proportion of mobility limitations and is one of the most disabling problems facing the growing population of older adults. The purpose of this research is to reduce disablement of older adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

Detailed Description

Aquatic based training can offer many of the same benefits associated with a land based exercises but water has certain properties that provide a more gentle and welcoming environment for exercising. Buoyancy in water counteracts gravity to support the weight of the subject and decrease the forces put on the joints. Viscosity of water can provide resistance proportional to the effort exerted and with gentle friction enhancing proprioceptive feedback. Immersing in warm water can cause an increase in body temperature due to specific heat and thermal conductivity, which can cause blood vessels to dilate. In addition, hydrostatic forces reduce edema, increasing venous return and healthy circulation. [Prins, 1999]; [Wilder, 1998]

Studies have shown that water based exercise has been proven to significantly decrease pain in people with knee osteoarthritis compared to those in a land based exercise program. [Silva, 2003] In comparing an aquatic physical therapy session to a no intervention group the aquatic program resulted in less pain, improved physical function, quality of life, and strength. [Hinman, 2007]

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether an aquatic therapy program aimed at increasing muscle power will be effective in improving knee symptoms and mobility in men and women with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of aquatic power training for improving mobility limitations, disability and quality of life in older adults with symptomatic knee OA.

Hypothesis 1: In older adults with symptomatic knee OA, a 6-week aquatic power training intervention will reduce lower limb mobility limitations (400m walk time).

Hypothesis 2: In comparison to baseline measures, at 6-week follow-up, there will be improvements in a) lower limb function (LLFDI), b) quality of life (KOOS Knee QOL),c) knee OA specific pain (KOOS pain) scores, and d) vastus lateralis muscle bulk (thigh muscle). These changes will be sustained at 12 week follow-up.

Conditions

Knee Osteoarthritis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Aquatic

Aquatic Power Training

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Aquatic Power Training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Aquatic power training program with an exercise specialist 2/week for 6 weeks.

Interventions

Aquatic Power Training

Aquatic power training program with an exercise specialist 2/week for 6 weeks.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 50 or older
• Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (knee osteoarthritis diagnosed by the American College of Rheumatology criteria and frequent knee symptoms)

Exclusion Criteria

• bilateral knee replacement
• acute or terminal illness
• unstable cardiovascular condition or other medical conditions that may impair ability to participate such as pulmonary disease requiring use of supplement oxygen, or lower limb musculoskeletal surgery in the past 6 months
• unwilling to be in a pool (approximately 4 feet deep)
• 400m walk time equal to or slower than the median for sex and decade:

M 50's 250.2 60's 289.9 70's+ 290.8

F 50's 315.9 60's 305.2 70's+ 292.5

• Minimum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Iowa

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

The University of Iowa

Principal Investigators

Neil A Segal, MD, MS

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Iowa

Locations

The University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

200903762

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id