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 (13.9 o versus 6.1 o ; p < 0.05) and variable (9.2 o versus 3.9 o ; p < 0.05) errors after nine-weeks gait training than the treadmill group. Conclusions: Nineweek 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.

Wrist joint proprioceptive acuity assessment using inertial and magnetic measurement systems

“…There were three dependent variables for JPS errors: absolute error (AE), [40][41][42][43][44] constant error (CE), 4,[45][46][47][48] and variable error (VE). [49][50][51] While AE is an assessment of overall error, CE reflects the directionality of errors and VE is the variability of the error over a series of trials and represents the accuracy of the performance. AE m was calculated to obtain the AE between the target position and reproduced position of the m-position for all the data together.…”

Sensory retraining of the leg after stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…45 Only three studies had blinding of both outcome assessors and study participants. 22,44,47 In total, 10 studies were rated as strong for data collection methods and one received a weak rating. 44 Five studies were rated separately for somatosensory measures and secondary outcomes due to the use of measures with a range of psychometric properties, all receiving a strong rating for balance or gait measures, and a weak rating for somatosensory measures.…”

“…22,23,41 There was a range of proprioceptive training strategies, including treadmill training with visual deprivation, 43 compelled body weight shift, 38,46 and aquatic gait training. 47 Other interventions included vibration stimulation 41,48 and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). 41,45,49 Intervention dosages ranged from a single dose lasting up to approximately two hours 49 to 30 minutes daily for six months.…”

The effect of aquatic and treadmill exercise in individuals with chronic stroke

“…The aerobic training applied to stroke people enhances physical ability and improves life independence and quality, reducing morbidity and mortality 18 . Standard aerobic training is usually developed with walking and running.…”

“…Treadmill protocols to stroke people can recover impaired gait, improve gait parameters and reduce walking asymmetries 19 . On the other hand, water walking enhances the afferent sensory inflow and improves peak aerobic capacity and walking endurance, being able to affect gait kinematics in patients with stroke 18,[20][21][22] . It is not clear whether walking on water would provide the same or more benefits compared with the standard treadmill walking for chronic stroke people.…”