Effects of Under-Water Therapeutic Exercise with Hydropower System on Middle-Aged Lumbago Patients / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

We subjected six male lumbago patients (average age of 58.2 years) to underwater therapeutic exercise with and without a hydropower system (Flow Machine (FM)) twice a week for 4 weeks (a total of 10 hours) at an interval of 10 weeks between the two therapeutic sessions. The FM produced running water (average speed of 0.9meter/second) in a temperature-controlled pool. The water temperature was kept to about 30°C, The subjects received a total of four examinations before and after these two therapeutic sessions. We compared the results of these two therapeutic sessions (under-water therapeutic exercise with FM and without FM) and obtained the conclusions described below.<br>Improvements of obesity, anaerobic power, power around knee, vital capacity and total score in lumbago treatment (results of Japanese Orthopaedic Association) were observed more significantly (p<0.05) and rapidly with the use of FM than without FM. Further, increased HDL-cholesterol and decreased free fatty acid in blood were observed significantly (p<0.05) only for FM use.<br>It was suggested that the resistance of running water, vibratile massage effect, and heat action of produced supersonic waves promoted the above improvements. We concluded that the hydropower system was useful in underwater therapeutic exercise on lumbago patients.