The Effectiveness of Aquatherapy on Physical Performance and Fear of Falling in Geriatric Individuals With Low Back Pain

The Effectiveness of Aquatherapy on Physical Performance and Fear of Falling in Geriatric Individuals With Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate the effects of aquatherapy on physical performance, balance, and fear of falling in older adults with chronic low back pain. Participants aged 65 years and older, with low back pain persisting for more than three months, will be randomly allocated to either an Aquatherapy Group or a Conservative Treatment Group.

The aquatherapy intervention will be delivered in a supervised therapeutic pool environment and will consist of a structured exercise program performed three times per week for six weeks (18 sessions in total). Each session will last approximately 45-60 minutes and will include standardized warm-up, main exercise, and cool-down phases. The intervention will utilize the physical properties of water, including buoyancy, viscosity, and hydrostatic pressure, to facilitate postural control, enhance trunk stability, and improve lower extremity muscle strength. The intervention is classified as a non-pharmacological, exercise-based rehabilitation program. No pharmacological agents will be used during the intervention.

The conservative treatment group will receive standard land-based physiotherapy, which will include trunk stabilization exercises, stretching exercises, lower extremity strengthening, and balance training, delivered under supervision with the same frequency and duration as the aquatherapy group.

Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Balance performance will be evaluated using the Biodex Balance System, a computerized posturography device providing objective measures of postural stability. Physical performance will be assessed using the 1-Minute Sit-to-Stand Test (1MSTS), and fear of falling will be measured using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I).

This study is expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of aquatherapy as a comprehensive rehabilitation approach for improving functional outcomes and reducing fall-related concerns in older adults with chronic low back pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 65 years and older
• Having chronic low back pain for more than 3 months
• Medical clearance to participate in exercise, including aquatic exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of lower extremity or spinal surgery within the last 6 months
• Contraindications to aquatic exercise or pool environment (e.g., open wounds, active skin infections)
• Severe cognitive impairment resulting in inability to follow instructions