Context:It has been theorized that aquatic balance training differs from land balance training.Objective:To compare the effects of balance training in aquatic and land environments.Design:Between-groups, repeated-measures design.Setting:Biomechanics laboratory and pool.Participants:24 healthy subjects randomly assigned to aquatic (n = 8), land (n = 10), or control (n = 6) groups.Intervention:Four weeks of balance training.Main Outcome Measures:Balance was measured (pre, mid, post, follow-up). COP variables: radial area, y range, x range in single leg (SL), tandem (T), single leg foam (SLF), and tandem form (TF) stance.Results:A significant condition × time interaction for x range was found, with improvements for SL, SLF, and TF. Radial area improved, with post-test 1.01 ± .23 cm2and follow-up 1.06 ± .18 cm2significantly lower than pretest 1.18 ± .23 cm2. Y range significantly improved, with posttest (4.69 ± 1.02 cm2) lower than pretest (5.89 ± 1.26 cm2). The foam conditions (SLF & TF) were significantly different from non-foam conditions (SL & T) for all variables.Conclusions:Results of this study show that balance training can effectively be performed in both land and aquatic environments.

In a retrospective study, the outcome of 87 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysm was assessed. Follow-up included neurological examination, grading of the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) of each patient, and answering a psycho-social questionnaire. This questionnaire was answered by the patients themselves or by a relative when the patient was not able to answer. The follow-up was performed more than 12 months after the occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in each patient. The psycho-social questionnaire pertained to the degree of independence in everyday activities, household management, stress endurance, memory and concentration, social and leisure activities, social contacts, occupational status, and marital relationships. By summarizing the results of these domains, the quality of life was then determined using the method described by McKenna et al. Neurological deficits in the form of an incomplete paresis of the third cranial nerve and subjective reduction of memory and concentration were identified in 3.5 % and 34.5-39 % of the patients, respectively. Of the 87 study participants, 58.2 % were fully independent, 22.4 % were able to live at home with the support of their relatives, and 5 patients were fully dependent. The occupational status of 21 patients who were fully employed before SAH was unaffected, whereas 3 patients were placed in positions with less responsibility, and 21 patients were either unable to continue working, unemployed, or retired. The quality of life was not reduced in 57.2 %, while a mild reduction in the quality of life was reported by 23.8 % and a severe reduction by 19.0 % of the participants. The ability of the initial Hunt and Hess grade, the initial Fisher grade, the extent of neurological deficits, and the occupational status after SAH to predict the patient's outcome was also evaluated. For statistical analysis, the Kendall-Tau-b-test for non-parametric correlations was applied. Significant correlations were found between the initial Hunt and Hess grade and the initial Fisher grade, between neurological deficits and GOS, between quality of life and occupational outcome, as well as between the GOS and quality of life assessment, but not between initial Hunt and Hess grade and GOS or quality of life, between neurological deficits and quality of life, between initial Hunt and Hess grade and occupational outcome, between initial Fisher grade and occupational outcome, and also not between initial Fisher grade and GOS or quality of life. Our results suggest that neither the initial Hunt & Hess grade nor the initial Fisher grade are suitable parameters for predicting the outcome of patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. The fact that GOS and quality of life correlated significantly confirms the use of GOS as a simple method for evaluating patient outcome, although it is not a grading system for evaluating functional disorders such as memory or subtle cognitive impairments.

All children with physical disabilities can be appropriately matched with different sport activities Children with physical disabilities derive great psychological and physical benefits from sport participation. Special attention should be given to the unique medical needs of children with specific disabilities