BACKGROUND Aquatic plyometric programs are becoming increasingly popular because they provide a less stressful alternative to land-based programs. Buoyancy reduces the impact forces experienced in water. PURPOSE To quantify the landing kinetics during a range of typical lower limb plyometric exercises performed on land and in water. STUDY DESIGN Crossover design. METHODS Eighteen male par...

BACKGROUND Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing worldwide and has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and high risk for chronic disease both for the mother and for the child. Physical exercise is feasible for diabetic pregnant women and contributes to better glycemic control and to a decrease in adverse perinatal outcomes. However, there are no randomized controlled tri...

BACKGROUND Aqua-cycling is easy to learn, acceptable, and safe for patients with knee osteoarthritis. It can therefore be an ideal component of aquatic circuit training. OBJECTIVE To investigate the feasibility of a small group-based aquatic exercise programme including aqua-cycling. DESIGN A feasibility study using quantitative (pre-post) and qualitative (cross-sectional) assessments. PA...

BACKGROUND Early multidisciplinary rehabilitation can improve the recovery after total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, optimal exercise therapy has not been defined. We aimed to answer the question: "Which type and/or timing of exercise therapy is effective following THA?" DESIGN Systematic review. METHODS We searched four databases: MEDLINE, PEDro, Cochrane Library, and Cinahl since Janua...

BACKGROUND Children with disabilities have lower physical activity levels and participate less in community-based sport and exercise programs than do children without disabilities. This in part is due to environmental barriers and lack of appropriate resources in these programs. Adaptive programs encouraging increased physical activity for children with disabilities are needed, and as these pro...

With water immersion, gravity is partly eliminated, and the water exerts a pressure on the body surface. Consequently there is a blood volume shift from the periphery to the central circulation, resulting in marked volume loading of the thorax and heart. This paper presents a selection of published literature on water immersion, balneotherapy, aqua exercises, and swimming, in patients with left...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease and a leading cause of adult disability. The etiology of OA is not clear, but common risk factors for developing OA include age, joint injury, mechanical overuse, and obesity. Exercise is the most common non-pharmacologic therapy prescribed to patients with osteoarthritis. The Arthritis Foundation promotes an exercise program involving low-imp...

[Purpose] This study investigated the effect of aquatic proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) patterns in the lower extremity on balance and activities of daily living (ADL) in stroke patients. [Subjects] Twenty poststroke participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 10) or a control group (n = 10). The experimental group performed lower extremity patterns in an a...