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Effects of aquatic exercise on joint pain and stiffness, motor function, happiness, and some anthropometric parameters of elderly men with knee osteoarthritis
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Soleyman Ansari1    , Alireza Elmieh2 , Fahimeh AdibSaber2 |
1- Department of Physical Education, Ra.C., Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran , solomonansari@yahoo.com
2- Department of Physical Education, Ra.C., Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran |
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Abstract: (93 Views) |
Background: Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is described as a chronic disease that characterized by loss and degradation of articular cartilage, synovial inflammation, leading to pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion, weakness and atrophy of muscles, and limitation of movement. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of aquatic exercise training on pain, stiffness, physical function, happiness, body composition and thigh girth of elderly men with KOA.
Materials and methods: We recruited 40 male patients (over 65 years) and assigned them to the aquatic exercise (n=20) and control (n=20) groups. Participants in the aquatic exercise group performed water-based activities for 6 weeks (three 50-min sessions per week), and the control group underwent no intervention. Anthropometric measurements of age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and hip circumference, as well as completion of the happiness questionnaire and the Southern Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) including pain, stiffness, and motor function, were performed at the beginning and end of the 6-week intervention.
Results: Results revealed that all three WOMAC subscales significantly improved in the experimental group, compared to the control (p<0.001). Furthermore, happiness score and thigh girth significantly increased (p<0.001), and BMI considerably decreased (p<0.001) after 6 weeks’ aquatic exercise.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that aquatic exercise has a beneficial effect on KOA symptoms, anthropometric parameters, and happiness values of elderly men with KOA.
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| Keywords: Knee osteoarthritis, Elderly men, Pain, Happiness, Physical function. |
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Full-Text [PDF 878 kb]
(23 Downloads)
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Semi-pilot: Quazi-Experimental |
Subject:
Physiology
Received: 2024/05/3 | Accepted: 2024/08/6 | Published: 2025/05/31
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