The Effects of Water-Based Exercise on Physiological Cost Index and Balance in Stroke Patients

Purpose: This study attempts to find the effects of water-based exercise performed on stroke patients in their physiological cost index and static and dynamic balance. Methods: The subjects were 30 stroke patients, who were randomly divided a water-based exercise group and a land-based exercise group, each with 15 patients. Both exercises ware performed 3 day per week, for 40 minutes a day, for a period of eight weeks. Results: The Water-based exercise group showed a decreased physiological cost index compared to the land-based exercise group, with the physiological cost index of the water-based exercise group decreasing, while the land-based exercise group, showing a significant decrease. Water-based exercise increased static and dynamic balance capacity better than land-based group, showing a significant difference and better efficiency of water-based exercise when compared to land-based exercise. Conclusion: From the result of the study, we found that water-based exercise is more effective in improving PCI and static and dynamic balance capacity. Through this study, training in water-based stroke patients could use cardiovascular endurance and buoyancy and the vortex, as an effective treatment that can enhance the growth and voluntary participation in the range of the patient's own movement the thought is, in consideration of the changes in the physiological cost index due to the difference in the ground and water, and should establish a training program that matches the purpose.