Effects of 8 weeks of water-based exercise on the lower limb muscles strength in Parkinsons

Muscular weakness, particularly weakness of lower limb muscles is a symptom of Parkinson disease, which, together with other symptoms, will result in a variety of movement disorders. This research is designed to assess the effectiveness of a water-based exercise program on the lower limb muscles strength of Parkinson patient's knee joints. In a semi-experimental study, 20 patients who referred to neurologist offices in the city of Isfahan volunteered for this study, and then randomly selected an exercise (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. Subjects of exercise group completed a eight-week water-based exercise training program consisted of three sessions per week, each session lasting 45 to 60 minutes, while the control group were followed and during this period they did not experience any exercise. Peak torque of the knee flexors and extensors using isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex, Systems III) during eccentric and concentric contractions at velocities of 60 and 180 degrees/s before and after 8 weeks of water-based exercise program were measured. The exercise group demonstrated significant increases in peak torque of the knee flexors and extensors at velocities of 60 and 180 degrees/s before and after 8 weeks of water-based exercise program (p<0.05). The percentage change confirmed the positive effect of water-based exercise training, the change in peak torque of the knee flexors and extensors at velocities of 60 and 180 degrees/s after study being significantly different between the groups (p<0.05)). We conclude that water-exercise can be a useful and effective treatment method for improvement strengthening the muscles in Parkinson patients'.