What is the evidence for aquatic therapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee?
AMSTAR Rating
Summary
Patient Population:
No information on the patient population was provided.
Intervention:
Aquatic exercise (waterbased exercise, aquatic therapy or hydrotherapy) and Balneotherapy (seated immersion or spa therapy) Identified interventions varied – no details provided.
Comparison:
The authors identified one best evidence synthesis focusing on aquatic therapy and balneotherapy, one Cochrane review of aquatic exercise in individuals with hip or knee OA and 3 additional systematic reviews in other patient groups.
Outcome:
- Function: aquatic therapy vs. comparison not reported (cochrane review of hip and knee OA) – significant difference in favour of aquatic therapy in the short-term (SMD=0.26; 95% CI 0.11 to 0.42).
- Pain: aquatic therapy vs. comparison not reported (cochrane review of hip and knee OA) – significant difference in favour of aquatic therapy in the short-term (SMD=0.19; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.32).
- QOL: aquatic therapy vs. comparison not reported (cochrane review of hip and knee OA) – significant difference in favour of aquatic therapy in the short-term (SMD=0.32; 95% CI 0.03 to 0.61).
- Aquatic vs. land-based exercise: No significant difference found in pain, function or QOL.
- Balneotherapy: No clear evidence shown, results hampered by low power, high risk of bias and ‘poor data presentation’.
