Use of aquatic environment for assessing functional tests: feasibility, benefits, and challenges compared to land-based testsABSTRACT:
This study aimed to investigate the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of using aquatic environment to assess physical function tests compared with land-based assessments. A total of 40 individuals underwent the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), 2-minute step test (2MST), and timed get-up-and-go (TUG) test, both on land and in a 1.2-meter water depth pool. Perceived exertion was measured using the Modified Borg scale. Paired Student’s t-tests and Cohen d were used to compare assessments in water and on land . Significance was set at 5%. Compared to land, participants walked less in water during the 6MWT (d =3.69, p<0.001) and took longer to complete the TUG test (d =2.76, p=0.001). No differences were observed in perceived exertion between land and water during the 6MWT (p=0.055) and TUG test (p=0.32). Regarding 2MST, there was no difference in performance between the environments (p=0.45). Conversely, participants experienced lower perceived exertion during the 2MST in water (=1.15, p=0.001). In conclusion, an aquatic environment is a feasible option for conducting functional tests. Although water may have increased the difficulty of certain assessments, the perceived exertion in water was either lower than or comparable to that of land.
Keywords:
Aquatic Therapy; Hydrotherapy; Physical Functional Performance; Evaluation Study