Hydrotherapy used to counter osteo-arthritis, obesity

The success of this facility to apply such a method to treat osteo-arthritis of the knee has prompted the Public Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Services (DMS) to plan to expand it elsewhere in Thailand – as part of a project to provide better services to the public – and the Asean region.

DMS deputy chief Dr Pannet Pangputhipong, who took members of the media to visit the hospital recently, said that osteo-arthritis of the joints was found in 50 per cent of seniors over 60. Citing the 2010 report, he said over six million Thai people now suffer from osteo-arthritis of the joints, with the majority of cases involving knee joints that support the body’s weight and are constantly in movement. He said osteo-arthritis of joints was two to three times more common among women than men.

As obesity problems worsen, it is expected that more people will suffer from osteo-arthritis in their joints, Pannet said. Thailand currently has 16 million overweight people – the second highest total in Asean.

Such a health problem can develop from a young age because of complications from obesity, Pannet said. The DMS told the hospital to study for the most appropriate rehabilitation method for elderly people with osteo-arthritis of joints and obesity. The resulting solution, this programme, was said to alleviate the pain, reduce bodyweight and slow knee degeneration. 

Hospital director Dr Sakchai Thirawittayakhom said the hospital applied the hydrotherapy concept to an exercise programme for overweight elderly people with osteo-arthritis in the joints, which was used along with devices to create leg muscle strength. 

The idea is to let water “carry” body weight (when a patient is in shoulder-deep water, the water mass “carries” his or her weight, leaving them to support only 10 per cent of body weight), Sakchai said. The knees don’t carry body weight or impact, hence the body moves better and freely while lukewarm water (30-34 Celsius) comforts muscles for relaxation and pain reduction, he said.

The hospital’s study of 40 samples by multi-disciplined personnel showed that patients, after having attended the water exercise programme for eight weeks (three 40-minute sessions a week) had increased arm, back and leg muscles. They experienced less pain in knee joints. Some 82 per cent of patients showed satisfaction with the programme, the media was told.

The hospital was developing a curriculum to improve the expertise of hydrotherapy personnel working in Rehabilitation Medicine for the Elderly in Asean. It also served as a centre to pass on knowledge about latest techniques to the state and private sector in and outside the country. 

The hospital provided medical treatment, physical therapy for those having problems with bone, muscle and nervous systems and health promotion programmes for the ageing.