Supporting Infants' Motor Development through Water Activities: A Preliminary Case-Control Study.

The first twelve months of an infant's life are the most dynamic time in the development of motor activities. Water activities can positively stimulate the motor skills, visual perception, and cognitive abilities of infants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the motor development of infants aged 3-12 months participating in water activities. Participants in the study included 43 infants aged 3-12 months who attended water activities classes at Warsaw City swimming pools (n = 21) and infants not attending any classes (n = 22). Two methods of assessing motor development were used in the study: the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and the Early Motor Development Questionnaire (EMQ). The raw scores of the AIMS test and the EMQ questionnaire were statistically significantly different (p < 0.05) in both groups between the first and second examinations. In contrast, there was a statistically significant improvement in motor development measured by AIMS and expressed in percentiles (p = 0.002) and in percentiles for Polish children (p = 0.030) in the water group. The age-independent total score of the EMQ before and after the intervention did not change significantly (p = 0.149). The water environment has the potential to support the motor development of infants aged 3-12 months.

Effect of Water-Based vs. Land-Based Exercise Intervention (postCOVIDkids) on Exercise Capacity, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Children with Post COVID-19 Condition: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Evidence suggests that COVID-19 can cause lasting health consequences called post-COVID-19 condition. We conducted a three-group, randomized controlled trial for children aged 10-12 years with post COVID-19 condition. Participants were randomized to AQUA, LAND, or CONTROL groups. The AQUA and LAND training sessions were conducted twice a week for eight weeks. The primary outcomes were exercise capacity, measured using the modified Balke treadmill protocol, and fatigue, measured using the Cumulative Fatigue Symptoms Questionnaire (CFSQ). The secondary outcome was health-related quality of life (HRQoL), measured with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) for children and parents. A total of 74 of the 86 children completed the intervention and attended the post-intervention assessment. The absolute maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) values increased after both AQUA (p = 0.001) and LAND (p = 0.004) interventions. No significant differences were found in the degree of total fatigue and individual fatigue symptoms. A significant improvement was found in the PedsQL reported by the parents in the LAND group. In conclusion, the applied eight-week water-based and land-based exercise training programs improved exercise capacity in children aged 10-12 years old with post COVID-19 condition. The parents of the children in the training groups also noted an improvement in HRQoL.

Metabolic and cardiopulmonary impact of aquatic exercise and nutritional guidance for four individuals with chronic motor incomplete spinal cord injury: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Persons living with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) demonstrate an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.Purpose The aim of this report was to assess the cardiopulmonary and metabolic impact of prescribed aquatic exercise in combination with dietary guidance for four individuals experiencing chronic SCI. CASE DESCRIPTION: We measured peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2), resting energy expenditure (REE), weight, food logs, fasting glucose, insulin and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) in four men with incomplete SCI, aged 34 to 63 years. INTERVENTION: The men received a group aquatic exercise program three times per week for 10 weeks, and a weekly individual nutritional consultation by phone. OUTCOMES: Peak VO2 increased by 7.9% and 34.4% in participants #3 and #4 and decreased by 12% and 16.4% in #1 and #2. Glucose values decreased by 19.6% and 14.2% for #1 and #3, and increased by 9.3% for both #2 and #4. Body mass decreased by 9.9%, 3.0% and 5.7% for participants #1, #2 and #3, but demonstrated no change for participant #4. Dietary guidance and education produced positive changes, including reduced fat, carbohydrate, daily sugar, and average calorie intake. CONCLUSION: Moderate exercise with weekly nutritional guidance appeared to positively impact body mass and dietary selections with varied metabolic and cardiopulmonary results.

Water-Based and Land-Based Exercise for Children with Post-COVID-19 Condition (postCOVIDkids)-Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

The most common symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition in children are fatigue, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, and weakness. The post-COVID-19 condition in children can be very debilitating and lead to prolonged school absences, high morbidity, and limitations in daily functioning. The aim of this research project is to determine the effectiveness of land-based and water-based exercise interventions on exercise capacity, fatigue, health-related quality of life, and pulmonary function in children with post-COVID-19 condition. This study is a prospective randomized controlled study with pre- and post-intervention assessment. Participants will be recruited from Warsaw's primary schools and primary healthcare units according to the inclusion criteria: (i) symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition lasting more than one month following initial COVID-19 infection confirmed by the diagnosis by general practitioner (including obligatory fatigue and shortness of breath/respiratory problems); (ii) age 10-12 years old. Participants meeting the inclusion criteria will be randomized to one of three groups: water-based exercise, land-based exercise, or control (no exercise). We hope this study will provide guidance for long-COVID-19 rehabilitation in children.

Aquatic Therapy for Persons with Neuromuscular Diseases - A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Aquatic exercise is among the most common physical activity modalities performed by people with disabilities. OBJECTIVE: The present paper reviews currently-available research on aquatic therapy (AT) for persons with neuromuscular diseases (NMD). METHODS: A scoping review of the existing literature was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTdiscus, CINAHL and Lilacs from the earliest date available until October 2020. It follows the methodological framework for conducting a scoping review proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS: A total of 28 articles were analyzed and the study parameters grouped by the topography of NMD; most of the studies (n = 16) addressed myopathies. A considerable increase in the number of studies was found over time, and heterogeneity was identified across and within AT interventions for persons with NMD; hence, to allow more effective interpretation of study results, there is a need to standardize the fundamental parameters and procedures for AT. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review provides a comprehensive outline of available literature; the findings could serve as a starting point for clinical studies on the effects of AT on persons with NMD, and encourage a more coherent approach to their design.

Effects of Aquatic Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on Social Competence and Quality of Life: A Mixed Methods Study.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a constellation of social deficits and repetitive sensory-motor behaviours. Aquatic therapy (AT) may be effective in improving the social interactions and behaviours in children with ASD. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an AT program on social competence and quality of life and to understand participant's experiences related to the intervention by obtaining qualitative data. A mixed methods intervention study was conducted among 6 children with ASD and their parents, with two research phases in a concurrent embedded design (an aquatic intervention as the quantitative design and a qualitative design in second step). The intervention and qualitative design followed international guidelines and were integrated into the method and reporting subheadings. Significant improvement was observed in the physical competence (p = 0.026) and important improvements in school functioning and aquatic skills, with no adverse events. Qualitative findings described: the meaning of AT intervention, patterns of behaviour and activities changes, social communication and social interaction. The aquatic intervention showed positive results for the social and physical competence, with elements of discordance, expansion, and confirmation between quantitative and qualitative results.

Does the Aquatic Breathing Program Improve Lung Function in Adolescents with Scoliosis?

Aim: To determine pulmonary parameters in adolescents with scoliosis after three weeks of intensive physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises based on the Aquatic Breathing Program (ABP) compared to corrective swimming (CS).Methods: A pretest-posttest control group design was used. The ABP group comprised 13 adolescents (age 14.2 ± 1.4) and the CS group 10 adolescents (age 14.1 ± 1.5) with mild to moderate scoliosis. Both groups participated in a threeweek intervention consisted of three types of exercises: corrective, general and aquatic. ABP group participated in the Aquatic Breathing Program and CS group took part in corrective swimming. Spirometric measurements were taken before and after the intervention.Results: ABP group demonstrated a greater increase (p = .05) in the predicted percentage values of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and maximal expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity (MEF25), both in absolute terms and in percentage values (MEF25%pred) compared to the CS group. CS group exhibited lower values of all measured parameters in the second examination, and some of those differences were found to be statistically significant.Conclusions: The Aquatic Breathing Program can be used in adolescents with mild to moderate scoliosis to improve lung function.

Head-Out Water-Based Protocols to Assess Cardiorespiratory Fitness-Systematic Review.

The aquatic environment offers cardiorespiratory training and testing options particularly for individuals unable to adequately train or test on land because of weight bearing, pain or disability concerns. No systematic review exists describing cardiorespiratory fitness protocols used in an aquatic environment. This review investigated the different head-out water-based protocols used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness. Our comprehensive, systematic review included 41 studies with each included paper methodological quality assessed using the statistical review of general papers checklist. Diverse protocols arose with three major categories identified: conducted in shallow water, deep water, and using special equipment. Thirty-seven articles presented data for peak/maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak/VO2max). Twenty-eight of 37 studies predefined criteria for reaching a valid VO2peak/VO2max with shallow water exercise demonstrating 20.6 to 57.2 mL/kg/min; deep water running 20.32 to 48.4 mL/kg/min; and underwater treadmill and cycling 28.64 to 62.2 mL/kg/min. No single, accepted head-out water-based protocol for evaluating cardiorespiratory fitness arose. For clinical use three cardiorespiratory fitness testing concepts ensued: water temperature of 28-30 °C with difference of maximum 1 °C between testing participants and/or testing sessions; water depth adapted for participant aquatic experiences and abilities; and intensity increment of 10-15 metronome beats per minute.

Accuracy of Impedance Cardiography for Hemodynamic Assessment During Rest and Exercise in Wheelchair Rugby Players.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the accuracy of impedance cardiography (ICG) for hemodynamic assessment in wheelchair rugby players during rest and exercise. Method: The study included 21 players (mean age 33.0 ± 5.4, 86% male) with posttraumatic tetraplegia. ECG, echocardiography, and gas exchange analysis during rest and exercise were used to obtain heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), and cardiac output (CO) for comparison with PhysioFlow®. Results: There was a good correlation between reference methods and ICG for HR, SV, CO at rest and CO at peak exercise (r = 0.69-0.77, p < .001) and a very good correlation for peak HR (r = 0.91, p < .0001). ICG overestimated SV at rest, CO at rest, and peak CO, which resulted in low intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC = 0.250 and 0.570). Conclusions: ICG can serve as a good estimate of basic hemodynamic parameters during rest and exercise in wheelchair rugby players but overestimates stroke volume and cardiac output.

Aquatic, deep water peak VO2 testing for individuals with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine the reliability of peak VO2 testing for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in deep water and on land; and to examine the relationship between these two testing conditions. Design: Reliability study. Setting: Comprehensive rehabilitation center in Baltimore, MD, USA. Participants: 17 participants (13 men, 4 women) with motor complete and incomplete SCI. Participants were randomized into either aquatic or arm cycle ergometer first measurements. Intervention: Pilot study to assess peak VO2. Outcome measures: Peak VO2 measured with metabolic cart in supported deep water with the addition of Aquatrainer® connection, and on land with arm cycle ergometer. Two trials were conducted for each condition with 48 h separating each test. Results: Peak oxygen consumption reliability was statistically significant for both conditions, aquatic (r = 0.93, P < 0.001) and arm cycle ergometry (r = 0.96, P < 0.001). Additionally, aquatic and arm cycle peak VO2 correlation existed (r = 0.72, P < 0.001). For these 17 participants, lower extremity motor score influenced supported, deep water peak VO2, B = 0.57, P < 0.02, whereas age, sex, and weight did not impact deep water or ergometer values. Conclusion: Determining peak VO2 for individuals with SCI is highly reproducible for arm cycle ergometry and in deep water assessment. Additionally, aquatic, deep water peak VO2 testing is valid when compared to arm cycle ergometry. Although the peak VO2 relationship between deep water and arm cycle ergometry is high, variance in the two conditions does exist. Therefore, it is important to assess peak VO2 via the same exercise modality utilized in the treatment intervention.

Functional Movement Screen™ and history of injury in the assessment of potential risk of injury among team handball players.

BACKGROUND: Handball is known to be one of the team sports representing the highest risk of injury. Several investigators have tried to identify injury risk factors in team sports including handball and suggested the need to develop an optimal tool to capture and quantify the potential risk of injury. The aim of the study was to evaluate potential risk of injury among handball players. METHODS: This was a mixed-design study. Handball players from 1st and 2nd division were evaluated (N.=30) using the Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS™). Additionally, self-reported history of injury was collected during FMS™ evaluation and after 6 months. Competitive level, training experience, playing position, anthropometric features, symmetry of movement patterns and history of previous injury were analyzed while assessing the potential risk of injury. RESULTS: Significant difference between the right and left side (upper limb) was revealed for Shoulder Mobility Test (U=308.5, P=0.014). Odds Ratio analysis revealed that having previous injury in the last 12 months is the only statistically significant injury risk factor (OR=13.71, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study we can assume that previous injury history reports are crucial in predicting injuries. FMS™ can help in identifying a typical adaptation in throwing shoulder among handball players, but should not be used alone to assess injury risk.

Participation in leisure activities and tourism among older people with and without disabilities in Poland.

Health conditions associated with aging might be related to disability and lead to decreased independence. Physical activity assists in maintaining independence throughout life as well as improves quality of life. Individuals with disabilities demonstrate overall less activity than sedentary persons without disabilities. Efforts to reduce age-related functional autonomy decline and to increase physical activity may require separate approaches for older adults with and without disabilities. The aim of the study was to compare physical activity and participation in leisure activities and tourism among older people with and without disabilities in Poland. A cross-sectional, multicenter study (PolSenior) randomly recruited participants aged 65 years and over, in a stratified, proportional draw performed in three stages from all 16 Polish provinces. 3743 people, 2653 (70.9%) without disabilities, and 1090 (29.1%) with disabilities responded providing general sociodemographic characteristics and various health behaviors including subjective physical activity level, leisure time activities, tourism and activity limitations. Older males without disability reported more physical activity than women with disability, while no differences were observed for females with and without disability. Polish older people with and without disability were more involved in gardening and staying in a garden allotment or a holiday home rather than participating in organized forms of sport, physical activity, and tourism. Health conditions arose as the most frequently indicated barrier toward participation in sport physical activity and tourism. In conclusion, strategies and programs to increase physical activity among older Polish people, with and without disability, should focus on preserving health and physical function.

The effect of aquatic exercise on physical functioning in the older adult: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: ageing and sedentary behaviour cause negative changes in the neuromuscular systems of healthy older adults resulting in a decrease in physical functioning. Exercising in water (aquatic exercise, AE) has been shown to be effective at improving physical functioning in this population; however, no systematic review with meta-analysis has been published. PURPOSE: to investigate the effect of AE on physical functioning in healthy older adults compared to control or land-based exercise (LE) through a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, Cinahl, PEDro, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, published before 31st December 2015. STUDY SELECTION: in total, 28 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review; 24 studies with 1,456 subjects (89% female) and with mean age 66.4 years were included in the meta-analysis. DATA EXTRACTION: data were extracted and checked for accuracy by three independent reviewers. DATA SYNTHESIS: size of treatment effect was measured using the standardised mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: compared to control interventions, AE had a moderate positive effect on physical functioning 0.70 [95% CI 0.48 to 0.92]. Compared to LE, AE had a small positive effect on physical functioning 0.39 [0.12 to 0.66]. LIMITATIONS: there is a high risk of bias and low methodological quality in the studies particularly when comparing AE to LE with possible over estimation of the benefit of AE. CONCLUSIONS: AE may improve physical functioning in healthy older people and is at least as effective as LE.

Laboratory and Field-Based Evaluation of Short-Term Effort with Maximal Intensity in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.

Results of previous studies have not indicated clearly which tests should be used to assess short-term efforts of people with intellectual disabilities. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate laboratory and field-based tests of short-term effort with maximal intensity of subjects with intellectual disabilities. Twenty four people with intellectual disability, who trained soccer, participated in this study. The 30 s Wingate test and additionally an 8 s test with maximum intensity were performed on a bicycle ergometer. The fatigue index, maximal and mean power, relative maximal and relative mean power were measured. Overall, nine field-based tests were conducted: 5, 10 and 20 m sprints, a 20 m shuttle run, a seated medicine ball throw, a bent arm hang test, a standing broad jump, sit-ups and a hand grip test. The reliability of the 30 s and 8 s Wingate tests for subjects with intellectual disability was confirmed. Significant correlation was observed for mean power between the 30 s and 8 s tests on the bicycle ergometer at a moderate level (r >0.4). Moreover, significant correlations were indicated between the results of laboratory tests and field tests, such as the 20 m sprint, the 20 m shuttle run, the standing long jump and the medicine ball throw. The strongest correlation was in the medicine ball throw. The 30 s Wingate test is a reliable test assessing maximal effort in subjects with intellectual disability. The results of this research confirmed that the 8 s test on a bicycle ergometer had a moderate correlation with the 30 s Wingate test in this population, thus, this comparison needs further investigation to examine alternativeness of the 8 s to 30 s Wingate tests. The non-laboratory tests could be used to indirectly assess performance in short-term efforts with maximal intensity.

Effect of therapeutic aquatic exercise on symptoms and function associated with lower limb osteoarthritis: systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Current management of osteoarthritis (OA) focuses on pain control and maintaining physical function through pharmacological, nonpharmacological, and surgical treatments. Exercise, including therapeutic aquatic exercise (TAE), is considered one of the most important management options. Nevertheless, there is no up-to-date systematic review describing the effect of TAE on symptoms and function associated with lower limb OA. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis to determine the effect of TAE on symptoms and function associated with lower limb OA. DATA SOURCES: The data sources used in this study were: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, and SPORTDiscus. STUDY SELECTION: All studies selected for review were randomized controlled trials with an aquatic exercise group and a nontreatment control group. In total, 11 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the synthesis and meta-analysis. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted and checked for accuracy by 3 independent reviewers. DATA SYNTHESIS: Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated for all outcomes. The meta-analysis showed a significant TAE effect on pain (SMD=0.26 [95% CI=0.11, 0.41]), self-reported function (SMD=0.30 [95% CI=0.18, 0.43]), and physical functioning (SMD=0.22 [95% CI=0.07, 0.38]). Additionally, a significant effect was seen on stiffness (SMD=0.20 [95% CI=0.03, 0.36]) and quality of life (SMD=0.24 [95% CI=0.04, 0.45]). LIMITATIONS: Heterogeneity of outcome measures and small sample sizes for many of the included trials imply that conclusions based on these results should be made with caution. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that TAE is effective in managing symptoms associated with lower limb OA.