Quantitative effects of a water exercise program on functional and physiological capacity in subjects with knee osteoarthritis: a pilot study

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and debilitating disease that often affects the knees. Patients suffer from pain and disability and have associated reductions in muscle and cardiopulmonary function. We quantitatively evaluated the effects of an 8-week water exercise program (WEP) on muscle, cardiovascular, and functional capacity on patients with knee OA. Functional capacity (walking time, Jette functional status index, habitual physical activity questionnaire), muscle function (strength, endurance, contraction speed of the quadriceps and hamstrings), and cardiovascular function (oxygen consumption, blood pressure, heart rate) were evaluated before and after WEP on 9 men and 9 women with knee OA. After 8 weeks of WEP, no significant changes were observed in any of the measured variables. Although patients with knee OA enjoyed the WEP and thought that it was beneficial to them, it did not significantly improve muscle and cardiovascular fitness or functional capacity.