BackgroundAquatic therapy promotes short-term benefits for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and it may be the first therapeutic option for this pathological condition. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of an aquatic therapy program on pain intensity, functional ability, and quality of life in older people with knee OA.Methods/designThis is a parallel, two-arm, open, randomized controlled clinical trial with older people with knee OA. Volunteers will be allocated to an aquatic intervention group (WG), subjected to the intervention, or to a control group, not be subjected to any kind of intervention. Data collection pre- and postintervention will be composed of the evaluation of the perception of pain by visual analogue scale with application of nociceptive stimuli in four anatomical points of the knee, functional fitness tests, and application of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale abbreviated version and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. The program will last 12 weeks, consisting of aerobic and functional exercises in the form of circuit training.DiscussionThe objective of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of aquatic therapy in elderly patients with knee OA. The study is guided by practice-based scientific evidence for the use of aquatic rehabilitation exercises. It is expected that the WG volunteers will show reduced pain intensity, increased flexibility, and improved functional capacity and quality of life. It is believed that the desired results can be attributed to physical and physiological effects of immersion in warm water associated with the exercise protocol proposed. The data will be published after completion of the study.Trial registrationBrazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) registration number: RBR-78h48d. Registered on 19 August 2015.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-2061-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Aim
Frailty syndrome is related to decreased physiological complexity, functional capacity and cognition. Physical exercise has been suggested to slow down and reverse this syndrome. However, evidence of its effectiveness is not as straightforward as conventionally admitted, as there is a lack of trials with rigorous methodology. The purpose of this study was to describe the Pre‐Frail Multicomponent Training Intervention protocol.
Methods
Cardiovascular, motor control and neuromuscular systems of pre‐frail older adults will be assessed by measuring the complexity of the output of these systems. Functional capacity and cognition will be assessed by specific tools. A 16‐week training protocol will be carried out on three alternate days, with 60‐min sessions, and combining aerobic, muscle strength, flexibility and balance exercises. The objective of this intervention is to improve the cardiovascular, motor control and neuromuscular systems, as well as functional capacity and cognition of pre‐frail older adults. The assessment of these systems will be carried out using gold standard devices.
Results
The results of the present study might allow clinical and functional support for the evaluation of the variables analyzed.
Conclusion
This protocol is easily reproducible and requires low‐cost materials, thus the Pre‐Frail Multicomponent Training Intervention could be a therapeutic strategy for pre‐frail older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 684–689.
Background: Frailty syndrome is characterized by a marked reduction in physiological reserves and a clinical state of vulnerability to stress. Torque complexity analysis could reveal changes in the musculoskeletal systems that are the result of having the syndrome. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the complexity of submaximal isometric knee extensor torque in frail, pre-frail, and non-frail older adults. A secondary aim was to analyze the torque complexity behavior in different force levels in each group. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Forty-two older adults were divided into three groups: non-frail (n = 15), pre-frail (n = 15), and frail (n = 12). The data collected included body composition, five times sit-to-stand test, walking speed, and isometric knee extensor torque at 15, 30, and 40% of maximal voluntary contraction. The knee extensor torque variability was evaluated by coefficient of variation, and the torque complexity was evaluated by approximate entropy and sample entropy. Results: The frail group presented a reduction in body mass and peak torque value compared to the non-frail group. Also, the frail group showed worse physical performance (on the five times sit-to-stand test and walking speed) compared to the pre-frail and non-frail groups. In addition, the frail older adults showed reduced torque complexity compared to the non-frail group. Finally, the association between torque complexity and force levels remained similar in all groups. Conclusion: Torque complexity is reduced in the presence of frailty syndrome.
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