The Effect of Aquatic Exercise Program on Pain, Body Weight, Fatigue, Flexibility in Elderly Women with Osteoarthritis

수중운동 프로그램이 골관절염을 가진 여성노인의 통증, 피로, 체중, 유연성에 미치는 효과

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of aquatic exercise program on pain, body weight, fatigue, flexibility in elderly women with osteoarthritis. Methods: The subjects of the study were sixty nine elderly women(age over 65years)who have an osteoarthritis. Aquatic exercise program consist of approximately one hour of exercise in water, two days per week, for six weeks. Data were gathered from September 2002 to August 2004 using a questionnaire and measuring body weight, flexibility of shoulder.. Data were analyzed with the SPSS Win 10.0 using frequency and paired t-test for differences between pre-exercise and post-exercise. Results: The results of this study are as follows: pain score, fatigue, body weight of post test were lower than those of pre test(t=5.587, p=0.000 ; t=3.394, p=0.001 ; t=4.664, p=0.000). Right and left flexibility scores of post test were better than those of pretest(Left: t=4.736, p=0.000 ; righrt: t=4.733, p=0.000). Conclusion: From these results, it is concluded that the aquatic exercise program can be effective in increasing physical and psychological function in elderly women.