An Effect of Aquatic Exercise through Home Nursing Care Demonstration Program for Patients having Rheumatoid Arthritis

가정간호 시범사업을 통한 류마티스 관절염 환자의 수중운동의 효과

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of long-term(6 Month) aquatic exercise through home nursing care demonstration on body weight, body fat, pain, muscle strength, self-efficacy and quality of life. Twenty-one women with rheumatoid arthritis were enrolled in the study. The sample was restricted to women in order to increase homogeneity. All patients were stable medication regimens in rheumatism center. The data was collected from October, 1994 to November, 1995. The data were analyzed Mean, Standard Deviation, $x^2$ Test, Mann-Whitney U-Wilcoxon Rank Sum W Test, Wilcoxon Matched-pairs signed-ranks test using SPSS $pc^+$ program. The results of this study were as follows : 1. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on body weight. 2. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on body fat. 3. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on pain(RAI). 4. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on muscle strength. 5. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on quality of life. But in the experimental group, finding from additional analysis showed significant difference in the score of quality of life between pre and post experiment. 6. There was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group on self-efficacy. The findings in this study were not support the positive effect of long-term aquatic exercise in women with rheumatoid arthritis. A further study is necessary to determine the pure effect of aquatic exercise except the effect of home nursing care.