Lau (2014) Physiotherapist-designed aquatic exercise programme for community-dwelling elders with osteoarthritis of the knee: a Hong Kong pilot study

Summary: Effectiveness of Aquatic Exercise for Elderly with Knee Osteoarthritis

Introduction

Knee osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic and disabling condition, notably affects the elderly, with a higher prevalence among the Hong Kong Chinese population. This study investigated the effectiveness and feasibility of a community-based aquatic exercise program, designed by physiotherapists, for elders with knee OA​​.

Methodology

The study was a prospective intervention with a before-and-after design. It involved twenty elders, with an average age of 72, from four Elderly Health Centres. They had suffered from knee OA for at least three years and experienced mild-to-severe knee pain​​.

Results

Post-intervention, there was a notable improvement in the median range of knee flexion (from 115° to 125°) and quadriceps strength (from 9 kg to 21 kg). Functional reach test scores increased from 20 cm to 28 cm, and repetitions in the sit-to-stand test rose from 10 to 14. Additionally, there was significant improvement in mobility, walking, bending ability of the trunk, levels of pain, mood, and the total score in the Chinese Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2. The programme also saw a high attendance rate (96%), indicating its acceptability and feasibility in a community setting​​.

Conclusions

The physiotherapist-designed aquatic exercise (PDAE) program demonstrated significant benefits in reducing knee pain, improving knee function, body balance, and psychosocial health in elders with knee OA. The study supports the effectiveness of aquatic exercise as a long-term self-management strategy for elderly individuals with chronic knee OA, including those who cannot participate in weight-bearing exercises​​.

Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Aquatic Exercise, Knee Function, Elderly, Pain Reduction