JOURNAL TRANSCRIPT
A COMPARISON BElWEEN TIlE EFFECTS OF LAND AND :ATERBASED EXERCISES IN PATIENTS WIlli RHEUMATOID AR1lIRI1lS
Faculty of Humanities Department of Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences
© University of Pretoria
DEDICATION IS D&DlCATIIDTO ALL RIDUJMATOID A1lTIIIdt'Js SlJJ'nRERS
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO THE FOLLOWING PERSONS AND INSTITUTIONS FOR THEIR GUIDANCE, WITHOUT WHO'S ASSISTANCE, THIS STUDY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. PROFESSOR P E KRUGER, (DEPARTMENT OF BIOKINETICS, SPORT & LEISURE SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA), WHO ACTED AS MY PROMOTER. FOR HIS TIME, SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE.
DR C JANSE VAN RENSBURG, (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA), WHO ACTED AS MY CO-PROMOTER. FORHERENTHUISIASM, SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE WITH EVALUATIONS. A M VAN DER MERWE, (INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA), FOR THE ANALYSISOF BLOOD SAMPLES. HEINRICH NOLTE, ASSISTANCE.
(MY HUSBAND).
FOR HIS LOVE, PATIENCE, SUPPORT AND GENERAL
YVONNE DE' ATH, (MY MOTHER). FOR HER SUPPORT, UNCONDITIONALLOVE AND GENERAL ASSISTANCE. SUBJECTS WHOM PARTICIPATED WILLINGNESSIN ASSISTINGME.
IN THE STUDY: FOR THEIR TIME, SUPPORT AND
NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION: THEIR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THIS RESEARCH IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED. OPINIONS EXPRESSED AND CONCLUSIONS ARRIVED AT, ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION. INSTITUTE FOR SPORTS RESEARCH, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA: THE USE OF THEIR EQUIPMENT IN THE EVALUATIONS OF THE SUBJECTS AND EXERCISE PROGRAMMES.
JSYnopslSI
A comparison between the effects of land and water based exercises in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Promoter Co-Promoter Degree
Prof. PE Kruger Dr C Janse van Rensburg MA(HMS)
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most common type of chronic inflammatory arthritis (Thompson, 1998). When appropriately prescribed, therapeutic exercise is useful in the care of patients with RA (Semble et aI., 1990).
A pre-test - post-test randomized groups design was adopted for the study to compare the effects of a land- and water-based exercise programme in RA patients. A total of ten subjects, diagnosed with RA functional class I or II according to Steinbrocker, were assigned to either a group performing water-based exercises (W, n=4), a group performing land-based exercises (L, n=4), or a control group, who were requested to continue with their present sedentary lifestyle (C, n=2).
For inclusion in the study, subjects were
required to be on stable medication. Categories of dependent variables measured, were disease activity, haematology, functional and psychological status as well as physical status.
There was a reduction in total swollen and tender joint counts in both experimental groups, but not the control group. The reduction was greater in group W than group L. Total tender joint count (DC) decreased by 53% (p0.05) in group W. In group L, the total TJC decreased by 4,7% (p>0.05) and the total SJC decreased by 8,5% (p>0.05).
The haematological values remained globally unchanged in all three groups concerning the hemolglobin (Hb) values.
There were changes in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in the groups, however changes were not significant (p>0.05). The ESR decreased by 29% in group Wand by 33% in group C.
There was a slight increase in group L's ESR (11,9010) but values
remained within the normal range.
There was an improvement in the patients self-assessed disability and psychological status in the experimental groups while there was a deterioration in the control group's. Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores improved by 15% in group W (p>0.05), 18% in group L (p>0.05) and deteriorated by 13% in group C (p>0.05). There was no change in the total Profile of Mood States (POMS) score of the control group, however, significant (p0.05), 18% vir groep L (p>0.05) en 'n negatiewe verandering van 13% vir groep C (p>0.05). Daar was geen veranderinge in die totale gemoedstoestand profile (POMS) vir groep C nie, maar wel beduidende (p0.05) afgeneem, terwyl gemiddelde bloeddruk onverandered gebly. Die 50-voet looptoets se tyd het met 18% (p0.05) en 34% (p>O.05) onderskeidelik. Verder was daar ook verbeteringe in gewrigsomvang. Daar was beduidende
verbeterings
(p0.05).
Verder was daar beduidende
(p