ABSTRACT

Objective

The primary aim is to verify the effectiveness of an aquatic training (AT) in inpatients with severe Traumatic Brain Injury (sTBI) on balance. The secondary aims are to explore the effects on gait, activities of daily living, and quality of life, comparing to a land-based conventional protocol.

Methods

Two-arm, randomized controlled trial. Twenty inpatients with sTBI, Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8, and Level of Cognitive Functioning ≥7 were recruited and randomly assigned to the aquatic therapy group (ATG) or to the Conventional Training Group (CTG). Patients underwent 12 individual rehabilitation sessions (3 days/week, 4 weeks), in a rehabilitation pool during the post-acute intensive neurorehabilitation. The primary outcome measure was the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Secondary outcome measures were the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Disability Rating Scale (DRS), Tinetti Gait Balance Scale (TBG) and Quality of Life After Brain Injury (QOLIBRI). All the evaluations were performed at the baseline and after 4 weeks of training.

Results

The within-subjects analysis showed a significant improvement both in ATG and CTG in MBI, BBS, TBG, and QOLIBRI.

Conclusion

Our results may support the use of AT during post-acute phase to improve motor functions and quality of life in patients with sTBI.

中文翻译：

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水生疗法在重度颅脑损伤患者急性神经康复后的作用：一项随机对照试验

摘要

目的

其主要目的是验证在严重的颅脑外伤（sTBI）住院患者中进行水上训练（AT）的有效性。次要目标是与陆基常规协议相比，探索对步态，日常生活活动和生活质量的影响。

方法

两臂随机对照试验。招募了20名sTBI，格拉斯哥昏迷量表评分≤8，认知功能水平≥7的住院患者，并将其随机分配至水生治疗组（ATG）或常规培训组（CTG）。在急性强化神经康复后的康复池中，患者接受了12次单独的康复疗程（3天/周，4周）。主要结果指标是伯格平衡量表（BBS）。次要结局指标为改良Barthel指数（MBI），残疾等级量表（DRS），Tinetti步态平衡量表（TBG）和脑损伤后生活质量（QOLIBRI）。所有评估均在基线和训练4周后进行。

结果

受试者内部分析显示，MBI，BBS，TBG和QOLIBRI的ATG和CTG均有显着改善。

结论

我们的结果可能支持在急性期后使用AT改善sTBI患者的运动功能和生活质量。