Article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an aquatic exercise
program designed to enhance muscular strength in paretic lower limbs in subacute
stroke patients. METHOD:
Thirty-six subacute stroke patients were randomly
divided to a conventional or an aquatic group (n = 18 each). Outcome measures
were assessed at baseline and after 8 wks of training.
For the paretic lower
limbs, maximum isometric voluntary contraction strength of the rectus femoris and
biceps femoris caput longus and the tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius
was measured. Cocontraction ratios during knee extension and flexion and ankle
dorsiflexion and plantarflexion were calculated respectively. In addition,
Modified Ashworth Scale, Functional Ambulation Category, and Barthel Index were
assessed. RESULTS:
Compared with the conventional intervention, the aquatic
intervention resulted in significantly higher knee extension (P = 0.002) and
ankle plantarflexion torque
(P = 0.002), accompanied with a significantly lower
knee extension cocontraction ratio in the paretic limb (P = 0.000). Functional
Ambulation Category (P = 0.009) and Barthel Index (P = 0.024) were greater in
aquatic group than conventional group posttreatment. Modified Ashworth Scale
scores did not show any differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Aquatic exercise
enhanced muscle strength in paretic lower limbs and improved muscle cocontraction
without increasing spasticity in subacute stroke patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS