Aquatic exercises versus land based exercises for elderly patients after a total hip replacement = Hidrokinezioterapija v primerjavi s kinezioterapijo pri starejših osebah po vstavitvi totalne endoproteze kolčnega sklepa.

Background: Aquatic therapy allows secure, active exercise with pain reduction using a combination of the water's buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, resistance and warmth. By aquatic therapy, elderly patients after total hip replacement can achieve more positive effects than by land-based exercise. The aim of the study was to investigate the use of aquatic-based exercises in the rehabilitation programme after a hip fracture surgery in elderly adults. Methods: Subjects (N = 24) were recruited from two nursing homes in Slovenia and were divided into 2 groups (control (N = 12) vs experimental (N = 12)). The experimental group received rehabilitation programme which included aquatic based exercises and the control group received rehabilitation program which included land based exercises. Harris hip score and Timed "Up & Go" test were used to asses subject's function ability prior to rehabilitation, as well as two and four weeks afterwards. The data were analyzed using two-way mixed-model analysis of variance with time (1st, 2nd, 3rd measurement) as within-subject effect and group as between-subjects effect. Results: Both groups, regardless of the type of exercises, improved statistically significantly in all parameters assessed by Harris Hip Score and Timed "Up & Go test", when baseline and final measurements were compared. The group with aquatic-based exercises scored significantly better in Harris Hip Score (p < 0.05) and experienced significantly less pain (p < 0.05) as compared to the subjects in the land-based exercise group. Conclusions: Aquatic exercises have similar benefits as land-based exercises after a total hip replacement.