Aquatic and land-based therapies were ineffective in improving muscle strength and morphological parameters in...

This study aims to investigate the efficacy of two common conservative physical therapy modalities: aquatic-based therapy and land-based therapy on disease progression and objective neuromuscular and morphological parameters in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

A randomized clinical trial involved 30 participants with Parkinson's disease, assigned to either aquatic-based therapy or land-based therapy for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Section III. Knee isometric rate of force development and isokinetic peak torque were measured using dynamometry. Thigh bone mass density, fat-free mass, and fat mass were assessed via DXA, while ultrasonography evaluated quadriceps muscle thickness, quadriceps specific tension, thigh specific tension, and echo intensity of the quadriceps.

Neither the aquatic-based therapy nor land-based therapy groups showed significant changes in the UPDRS, isometric rate of force development, isokinetic peak torque, bone mass density, or fat mass. However, both groups exhibited a significant reduction in fat-free mass (p = 0.008). The aquatic-based therapy group significantly increased echo intensity of the rectus femoris (Δ = 8.1 ± 14.8 arbitrary units) compared to land-based therapy (Δ = -1.8 ± 9.1 arbitrary units). Several isometric rate of force development intervals and both quadriceps specific tension and thigh specific tension were significantly related to the UPDRS (p < 0.05).

Both low-intensity modalities did not improve force production but reduced thigh fat-free mass in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease progression was significantly associated with force production parameters rather than morphological parameters.