Aerobic training in aquatic environment improves the position sense of stroke patients: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract AIMS (Stroke patients often present sensory-motor alterations and less aerobic capacity. Joint position sense, which is crucial for balance and gait control, is also affected in stroke patients). To compare the effect of two exercise training protocols (walking in deep water and on a treadmill) on the knee position sense of stroke patients. METHODS This study was designed as a randomized controlled clinical trial. Twelve adults, who suffered a stroke at least one year prior to the start of the study, were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) pool group submitted to aerobic deep water walking training; and 2) the treadmill group which was submitted to aerobic walk on a treadmill. Measurements: The position sense, absolute error and variable error, of the knee joint was evaluated prior to and after nine weeks of aerobic training. RESULTS The pool group presented smaller absolute (13.9o versus 6.1o; p < 0.05) and variable (9.2o versus 3.9o; p < 0.05) errors after nine-weeks gait training than the treadmill group. CONCLUSIONS Nine-week aerobic exercise intervention in aquatic environment improved precision in the position sense of the knee joint of stroke patients, suggesting a possible application in a rehabilitation program.

摘要 研究背景与目的：脑卒中患者常伴感觉运动功能障碍与有氧能力下降，而对平衡与步态控制至关重要的膝关节位置觉（knee joint position sense），同样会在脑卒中患者中受损。本研究旨在对比两种有氧训练方案——深水行走与跑台步行——对脑卒中患者膝关节位置觉的影响。方法：本研究为随机对照临床试验。招募12名于研究开始前至少1年发生脑卒中的成年受试者，将其随机分为两组：①水下组：接受有氧深水行走训练；②跑台组：接受跑台有氧步行训练。分别于9周有氧训练前后，对受试者膝关节位置觉的绝对误差与可变误差进行评估。结果：经过9周步态训练后，水下组的绝对误差（13.9° vs 6.1°；p < 0.05）与可变误差（9.2° vs 3.9°；p < 0.05）均显著低于跑台组。结论：为期9周的水中有氧运动干预可改善脑卒中患者的膝关节位置觉精度，提示该方案有望应用于临床康复训练项目。