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ISSN 2063-5346
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Effect of Water Specific Therapy (Halliwick Method), Bad Ragaz Ring Method and Clinical Ai Chi aquatic therapy techniques on improving Balance in Older Adults – A Scoping Review

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Purnima Singh;Dr. P C Sarma;Prof. C K Senthil Kumar;Dr. Abhijit Dutta;
» doi: 10.48047/ecb/2023.12.12.151

Abstract

Background: Exercises are recognized as a mainstay in the prevention and management of falls and balance in the elderly. Aquatic environments have been found to increase proprioceptive input to the immersed body through increased balance and alignment. Evidence suggested that Water Specific Therapy (Halliwick Method), Bad Ragaz Ring Method and Clinical Ai Chi aquatic therapy techniques using laws of fluid mechanics improve balance in elderly. Objective: To compile available research on the effect of Water Specific Therapy (WST), Bad Ragaz Ring Method (BRRM), and Clinical Ai Chi forimproving balance in the elderly. Methods:The search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE,CINAHL, PEDro,and SPORTDiscusdatabases. The PICO model was used in the selection of the papers.Selection criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCT), quasi-experimental studies, pilot trials, and Cohort with either of the three interventions as the main aquatic intervention forthe elderlywith the report of a standardized outcome measure for balance. Results: Thirteen articles, with a total of 393 participants, met the inclusion criteria including 8 RCT’s, 2 Cohort, 2 pilot trials, and 1 QES ranging from fair to good assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. The study population was persons with Chronic stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and community-dwelling elderly. Aquatic intervention treatment dosage varied from 30 to 60 minutes, 2 to 12 times per week, for 2 to 24 weeks. Comparison groups included conventional aquatic interventions&land-based exercise. Discussion: The qualitative analysis reveals a number of encouraging results with Significant improvement in Balance following Ai Chi, WST, and BRRM intervention. All the studies specifically described the whole program, thus facilitating the recommendation of a certain protocol specific to the elderly population relative to balance

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