The Effectiveness of Aquatherapy on Physical Performance and Fear of Falling in Geriatric Individuals With Low Back Pain
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Aquatherapy, Conservative Treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Low Back Pain. Basic parameters: from 65 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
The Effectiveness of Aquatherapy on Physical Performance and Fear of Falling in Geriatric Individuals With Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
This randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate the effects of aquatherapy on physical performance, balance, and fear of falling in older adults with chronic low back pain. Participants aged 65 years and older, with low back pain persisting for more than three months, will be randomly allocated to either an Aquatherapy Group or a Conservative Treatment Group. The aquatherapy intervention will be delivered in a supervised therapeutic pool environment and will consist of a structured exercise program performed three times per week for six weeks (18 sessions in total). Each session will last approximately 45-60 minutes and will include standardized warm-up, main exercise, and cool-down phases. The intervention will utilize the physical properties of water, including buoyancy, viscosity, and hydrostatic pressure, to facilitate postural control, enhance trunk stability, and improve lower extremity muscle strength. The intervention is classified as a non-pharmacological, exercise-based rehabilitation program. No pharmacological agents will be used during the intervention. The conservative treatment group will receive standard land-based physiotherapy, which will include trunk stabilization exercises, stretching exercises, lower extremity strengthening, and balance training, delivered under supervision with the same frequency and duration as the aquatherapy group. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Balance performance will be evaluated using the Biodex Balance System, a computerized posturography device providing objective measures of postural stability. Physical performance will be assessed using the 1-Minute Sit-to-Stand Test (1MSTS), and fear of falling will be measured using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). This study is expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of aquatherapy as a comprehensive rehabilitation approach for improving functional outcomes and reducing fall-related concerns in older adults with chronic low back pain.
Interventions
- Other Aquatherapy
Participants in the aquatherapy group will receive a structured, supervised aquatic exercise program conducted in a therapeutic pool environment. The intervention will last for 6 weeks, with sessions performed three times per week, totaling 18 sessions. Each session will last approximately 45-60 minutes and will consist of warm-up, main exercise, and cool-down phases. The intervention type is classified as a non-pharmacological, exercise-based procedural intervention. The program will be delive - Other Conservative Treatment
Participants in the conservative treatment group will receive a structured, supervised land-based physiotherapy program for 6 weeks, three times per week, totaling 18 sessions. Each session will last approximately 45-60 minutes and will include exercises, stretching, lower extremity strengthening, and balance training aimed at improving physical function and postural control.
Primary outcome measures
- Balance [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks]
- Dinamic and static balance [Time frame: Measurements will be conducted at baseline (initial assessment) and 6 weeks of intervention.]
- Physical performance [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks]
- Falls Efficacy Scale-International [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Aged 65 years and older
- Having chronic low back pain for more than 3 months
- Medical clearance to participate in exercise, including aquatic exercise
Exclusion criteria
- History of lower extremity or spinal surgery within the last 6 months
- Contraindications to aquatic exercise or pool environment (e.g., open wounds, active skin infections)
- Severe cognitive impairment resulting in inability to follow instructions
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07531017 · m.s.dalakcı