Effectiveness Of Aquatic Therapy on Falls and Functional Activities in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Subject - A Single Case Study

Abstract

Background Of the Study: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is marked by an abnormal increase in heart rate when moving to an upright position, making it difficult to stand for extended periods due to severe lightheadedness, weakness, and near-fainting. The cause of POTS remains unknown. The dizziness experienced by patients is due to insufficient blood flow to the brain. POTS affects about 0.2% of the general population, with an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 individuals in the United States living with the condition. It predominantly impacts women aged 15 to 50 years. Aquatic therapy, involving exercises performed in water, has shown benefits such as improving range of motion, initiating resistance training and weight bearing, promoting cardiovascular fitness, and enhancing relaxation for patients. Objectives: The purpose of the study is to prevent falls and improve the functional activities after the aquatic therapy in individual with Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Subjects And Methods: The study utilized a single case design and was carried out at the outpatient department of PPG College of Physiotherapy in Coimbatore. An 18-year-old female subject with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome participated, experiencing difficulties in functional activities and frequent falls. She underwent 12 sessions of aquatic therapy over three months. The outcome measures included the Short Falls Efficacy Scale for falls and the Vertigo Symptoms Scale for functional activities. Pretest and post-test values were recorded and analyzed. Result: The statistical report indicates that the pretest and post-test values of the Short Falls Efficacy Scale and Vertigo Symptoms Scale demonstrate significant improvement in a subject with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome who underwent aquatic therapy. The pretest and post-test values for the Short Falls Efficacy Scale were 24 and 8, respectively. For the Vertigo Symptoms Scale, the pretest and post-test values were 31 and 14, respectively. Conclusion: Thus, the study concluded that aquatic therapy resulted in statistically significant improvements in preventing falls and enhancing functional activities in a subject with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Clinical Implications: Aquatic therapy has a significant effect to preventing falls and improving functional activities in subjects with POTS.