title: The impact of a specific aqua-training for adult haemophilic patients--results of the WATERCISE study (WAT-QoL).
abstract: Sport is increasingly recommended for haemophilic patients due to physical and psychological benefits. 'WATERCISE' is a specific aqua-training programme for haemophiliacs in which endurance, strength, coordination and mobility are trained. In the WAT-QoL study benefits and risks of regular WATERCISE training sessions were investigated in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical functioning (PF), orthopaedic joint status (OJS), bleeding frequency and factor consumption. Patients in the WATERCISE group attended an aqua-training programme once a week for 1 h over 12 months, patients in the control group did not. Patients were matched for clinical and demographic data. Information on clinical data, orthopaedic status, PF (HEP-Test-Q) and HRQoL were collected in both groups at baseline and at follow-up (6 and 12 months). Twenty-eight adult severely affected haemophilic patients (WATERCISE group: 10 haemophilia A (HA), 3 haemophilia B (HB) patients; control group: 12 HA and 3 HB patients) were enrolled (aged 40.68 ± 12.7 years). Baseline data (body mass indices, OJS, sportive activities, HRQoL and PF) were well distributed between groups. After 12 months the WATERCISE group reported a significantly better PF (M(W) = 65.22, SD = 11.3; M(C) = 52.5, SD = 15.0), especially for endurance (P < 0.004). Although always differently reported by the patients within the WATERCISE group, HRQoL did not prove to be significantly different between groups. WATERCISE seems to have a positive effect on the PF of patients suffering from haemophilia. These study findings need to be further investigated in a larger study group.
authors.affiliation: Institute and Policlinics for Medical Psychology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. s.mackensen@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Von Mackensen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eifrig
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zäch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalnins
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wieloch
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006395:Hemarthrosis / Q000209:etiology; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002836:Hemophilia B / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013550:Swimming; D055815:Young Adult