Abstract:
This retrospective study examined the hypothesis
that aquatic physical therapy and land-based physical therapy when used
together are more beneficial than when either treatment is used alone for
decreasing pain intensity in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. Methods:
Charts at the John Heinz Institute were reviewed for subjects who were
treated from May to October, 1997 as outpatients. Pain Quotient Scale measurements
were collected at initial evaluation and after six to eight weeks of physical
therapy, modeling a pre-test, post-test format. From all appropriate, available
charts, thirty from each treatment group were randomly selected and coded
for confidentiality. Data Analysis and Results: Mean percentage
decreases in pain for each group were compared using a one-way ANOVA and
a Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference post hoc test. The majority of
all subjects demonstrated a decrease in pain intensity. The decrease seen
in the subjects receiving land-based therapy was significantly greater
than the decrease seen in those receiving aquatic therapy at an alpha level
of .028. Mean decrease by group was 26.3% for aquatic therapy, 28.3% for
aquatic and land-based therapy, and 41.3% for land-based therapy. Conclusions:
Although all three treatment methods resulted in a mean decrease in pain
intensity, land-based therapy achieved the largest decrease in pain intensity.
Experimental, scientific research is needed to further examine this issue
and others involving aquatic therapy.
copyright 1999 E. Kosmahl send e-mail to Dr. Kosmahl