Effects of Eight Weeks of Aquatic Therapy on Knee Proprioception and Gait Speed Among Female Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) significantly affects mobility and quality of life in older adults. Objectives: This clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effects of an eight-week aquatic therapy program on gait speed and knee proprioception in this population. Methods: A randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted with 34 female participants diagnosed with KOA. They were randomly assigned to either an aquatic therapy group or a control group. The intervention consisted of structured aquatic therapy sessions conducted over eight weeks. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were performed to evaluate knee proprioception using a digital goniometer and gait speed using the 10-Meter Walk test (10MWT) under simple walking and cognitive task conditions. Results: ANCOVA analyses showed significant improvements in both gait speed and knee proprioception following the intervention. Gait speed under normal conditions improved significantly [F (1, 31) = 37.75, P < 0.001], with aquatic therapy accounting for 54.9% of the variance in improvements. The average gait speed of the aquatic therapy group was significantly greater than that of the control group. Additionally, knee proprioception scores improved significantly [F (1, 32) = 10.316, P = 0.003], with aquatic therapy explaining 25% of the variance in improvement. Conclusions: The findings indicate that an eight-week aquatic therapy program is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for enhancing gait speed and proprioception in older women with KOA. This study highlights the therapeutic value of aquatic therapy in improving functional outcomes and quality of life in this population.