A randomized controlled trial of aquatic and land-based exercise in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of aquatic exercise and a land-based exercise programme vs control in patients with knee osteoarthritis.


METHODS
Primary outcome was change in pain, and in addition Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score questionnaire (KOOS). Standing balance and strength was also measured after and at 3-month follow-up. Seventy-nine patients (62 women), with a mean age of 68 years (age range 40-89 years) were randomized to aquatic exercise (n = 27), land-based exercise (n = 25) or control (n = 27).


RESULTS
No effect was observed immediately after exercise cessation (8 weeks). At 3-month follow-up a reduction in pain was observed only in the land-based exercise group compared with control (-8.1 mm, (95% confidence interval -15.4 to -0.4; p = 0.039), but no differences between groups were observed for KOOS; and no improvement following aquatic exercise. Eleven patients reported adverse events (i.e. discomfort) in land-based exercise, while only 3 reported adverse events in the aquatic exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
Only land-based exercise showed some improvement in pain and muscle strength compared with the control group, while no clinical benefits were detectable after aquatic exercise compared with the control group. However, aquatic exercise has significantly less adverse effects compared with a land-based programme.
Clinical Motor Function Laboratory, The Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Fredriksberg, Denmark. hlund@health.sdu.dk
Hans
H
Lund
Ulla
U
Weile
Robin
R
Christensen
Benedicte
B
Rostock
Anne
A
Downey
Else Marie
EM
Bartels
Bente
B
Danneskiold-Samsøe
Henning
H
Bliddal
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome