Samhan (2020) Assessment of the Clinical Effects of Aquatic-Based Exercises in the Treatment of Children With Juvenile Dermatomyositis: A 2×2 Controlled-Crossover Trial
In short: In this crossover trial, 14 children with juvenile dermatomyositis, an inflammatory muscle and skin disease, received both aquatic-based and land-based exercise in random order. The aquatic exercise improved hip muscle strength, fatigue, quality of life and skin disease activity more than land-based exercise.
About this study
Samhan and colleagues carried out an assessor-blinded, controlled 2×2 crossover trial in 14 children (4 boys and 10 girls, aged 10 to 16, mean 11.7). Half of the children received aquatic exercise first and half received land-based exercise first. Isometric muscle strength, fatigue and quality of life (PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale) and skin disease activity (DAS skin) were measured four times in each sequence.
Main findings
- Aquatic exercise improved hip flexor strength (p = 0.007) and hip abductor strength (p = 0.001) more than land-based exercise.
- Both types of exercise increased shoulder flexor and abductor strength to a similar extent.
- Aquatic exercise improved fatigue and quality of life and skin disease activity significantly more than land-based exercise (p < 0.001).
- The order in which the children received the two programs did not affect the results.
The authors conclude
The authors conclude that supervised aquatic-based exercise is more effective than land-based exercise in improving muscle strength, fatigue, quality of life and skin disease activity in children with juvenile dermatomyositis.
Limitations
The trial included 14 children; larger studies with longer follow-up are needed.
Source
Samhan A, Mohamed N, Elnaggar R, Mahmoud W. Assessment of the Clinical Effects of Aquatic-Based Exercises in the Treatment of Children With Juvenile Dermatomyositis: A 2×2 Controlled-Crossover Trial. Archives of Rheumatology. 2020. doi: 10.5606/ArchRheumatol.2020.7548. Published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence.
