The Effect of Aquatic Exercise Therapy on knee joint hemarthrosis in hemophilic children

Pain and limited range of motion (ROM) are the crucial subsequent results of joint hemorrhages in individuals with bleeding disorders and hemophilia. Exercise interventions are particularly recommended in treatment of such patients. The purpose of this study was to detect the influences of conventional exercise therapy and aquatic exercise therapy on the knee joint complications in patients with hemophilia. Forty male patients with Rt knee joint bleeding were assigned randomly into two equal groups. Their ages were ranged from10-14 years old. The subjects were evaluated for the following parameters: The pain level and knee ROM and knee circumference, the visual analog scale, electronic goniometer and tape measurement were utilized, respectively before and after three months of treatment program. Subjects in the control group received selected physical therapy program in the form of (Range of motion, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises and proprioceptive training) whereas subjects in the study group received the same selected physical therapy program in water. The data were collected and analyzed using a paired and un-paired t-test to compare the difference between the results within each group pre test and post test and between the two groups. The results of this study revealed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) of all of the measured variables.