Evaluation of the Feasibility of a Two-Week Course of Aquatic Therapy and Thalassotherapy in a Mild Post-Stroke Population

Carla Morer, Alfredo Michan-Doña, Antonio Alvarez-Badillo, Pilar Zuluaga and Francisco Maraver
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Carla Morer: Institut Català de la Salut, EAP 8K, Centro Atención Primaria Rio de Janeiro, UTAC Muntanya, 08016 Barcelona, Spain
Alfredo Michan-Doña: Departamento de Medicina, Instituto Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz, Hospital Universitario de Jerez, Universidad de Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, Spain
Antonio Alvarez-Badillo: Department Radiology, Rehabilitation & Physiotherapy, Medicine School, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Pilar Zuluaga: Statistics and Operations Research Department, Medicine School, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Francisco Maraver: Professional School of Medical Hydrology, Complutense University, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: Strokes are a leading cause of disability in developed countries. Patients with disabilities need rehabilitation to improve their physical functioning, mental status, and quality of life. Currently, no high-quality evidence can be found attesting the benefits of any of the interventions that are nowadays used. Water-based exercise may improve the physical conditions and quality of life of people in the post-stroke phase. The objective of this study is to test whether aquatic therapy in an enriched environment at the seaside (a thalassotherapy center) could play a role in this condition. A quasi-experimental prospective study consisting of a specific program assessed 62 patients with a mild–moderate disability pre- and post-2 weeks of intensive treatment. They followed a thalassotherapy regimen including aquatic therapy in a sea water pool at 32–34 °C for 45 min daily five times a week. The outcomes measured were the Berg Balance scale, the Timed Up and Go test, the 10-meter walking test, the 6-min walking test, the Pain Visual Analogue Scale, the WHO Well-being index, EuroQoL VAS and EuroQoL 5D. We observed a significant improvement in all outcomes measured ( p < 0.001, except mobility EuroQoL p < 0.05), except in the other four dimensions of the EuroQoL 5D and 10-metre walking test (NS). Conclusion: A two-week intensive course of aquatic therapy and thalassotherapy may be beneficial in the short term by reducing pain and improving the functional status and overall well-being of post-stroke patients.

Keywords: aquatic therapy; thalassotherapy; stroke; balance; gait; pain; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:8163-:d:440186

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