Abstract
Background : Aquatic exercise is an important exercise for people who want to bestrong. The warmth and pressure of the water may further assist painrelief, swelling reduction, and ease the physical movement. However, inThailand no researcher has studied the effects of aquatic exercise onpulmonary function.Objective : This study is aimed to compare the forced vital capacity (FVC) andforced expiratory in one second (FEV1) before (week 0), and immediatelyafter the completion of the aquatic exercise program (week 6) in healthyThai subjects.Setting : The Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University.Design : Experimental Study.Method : Forty-four subjects were divided into two groups. The average age ofthe control group or no aquatic exercise (n = 22) was 43.1 ± 9.8 yearsof age, while that of the experimental group or aquatic exercise group(n = 22) was 46.1 ± 11.4 years. Both groups had their baselinecharacteristics, FVC and FEV1 before (0 week) and immediately afteraquatic exercise program was completed (6 weeks).Results : FVC of control group before and after were 1.9 + 0.4 and 1.8 + 0.4 litersand FEV1 before and after were 1.5 + 0.3 and 1.5 + 0.2 liters, respectively.FVC and FEV1 of the control group were insignificantly different, whenthe results of the before and immediately after program completion werecompared. FVC of experimental group before and after were 1.9 + 0.4and 2.1 + 0.3 liters and FEV1 before and after were 1.5 + 0.5 and1.7 + 0.5 liters, respectively. Nevertheless, after the program wascompleted, the experimental group had significantly greater FVC(p = 0.025) and FEV1 (p = 0.031) than the corresponding control group.In addition, the results showed significant differences (p = 0.039;p = 0.031) in FVC and FEV1 between before and after 6 weeks of aquaticexercise.Conclusion : In conclusion, the results of this study imply effects of aquatic exerciseon the improvement of lung capacity. Thus, it may be applied inindividuals with restrictive pulmonary conditions. However, the studywas conducted in normal subjects. Therefore, further study on effects ofaquatic exercise in patients with restrictive pulmonary conditions isvaluable. In addition, the study on effects of aquatic exercise onpulmonary function of different genders may expand the results ofaquatic exercise.
Publisher
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
First Page
29
Last Page
38
Recommended Citation
Janyacharoen, T; Chaichanawongsa, J; Namsiri, S; Thongduang, Y; and Arayawichanond, P.
(2011)
"Effects of aquatic exercise on pulmonary functionin healthy Thai subjects,"
Chulalongkorn Medical Journal: Vol. 55:
Iss.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/clmjournal/vol55/iss1/4