RODRIGUES, Daiana Cordeiro et al. Bone mineral density in vertebrae of rats subjected to immobilization and aquatic therapy. []. , 14, 1, pp.346-350. ISSN 1646-107X.

Immobilization decrease in the bone mineral density (BMD) of body segment that is immobilized, and aquatic therapy has often been considered as a possible treatment. The aim off the present study was to compare spine BMD of rats that underwent immobilization and subsequently followed aquatic therapy. 32 female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: control, immobilized, immobilized + aquatic therapy and aquatic therapy. Immobilization was performed in the rear right limb, comprising pelvis, hip, leg, knee and ankle and lasted 2 weeks. Aquatic therapy lasted 3 weeks, 6 days per week. After the experiment the rats were sacrificed and vertebrae L6 and T13 were removed and analyzed for BMD. There was a decrease in BMD of T13 in the immobilized group when compared with control and an increase in immobilized + aquatic therapy group when compared with immobilized group. It is concluded that aquatic therapy has the potential to override bone loss induced by limb immobilization.

: immobilization; bone mineral density; spine.

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