A systematic review of nonrandomized controlled trials on the curative effects of aquatic exercise

Abstract

Background:The objectives of this review were to integrate the evidence of curative effects through aquatic exercise and assess the quality of studies based on a review of nonrandomized controlled trials (nRCTs).Methods:Study design was a systematic review of nonrandomized controlled trials. Trials were eligible if they were nonrandomized clinical trials. Studies included one treatment group in which aquatic exercise was applied. We searched the following databases from 2000 up to July 20, 2009: MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, and Ichushi-Web.Results:Twenty-one trials met all inclusion criteria. Languages included were English (N = 9), Japanese (N = 11), and Korean (N = 1). Target diseases were knee and/or hip osteoarthritis, poliomyelitis, chronic kidney disease, discomforts of pregnancy, cardiovascular diseases, and rotator cuff tears. Many studies on nonspecific disease (healthy participants) were included. All studies reported significant effectiveness in at least one or more outcomes. However results of evaluations with the TREND and CLEAR-NPT checklists generally showed a remarkable lack of description in the studies. Furthermore, there was the problem of heterogeneity, and we were therefore not able to perform a meta-analysis.Conclusion:Because there was insufficient evidence on aquatic exercise due to poor methodological and reporting quality and heterogeneity of nRCTs, we were unable to offer any conclusions about the effects of this intervention. However, we were able to identify problems with current nRCTs of aquatic exercise, and propose a strategy of strengthening study quality, stressing the importance of study feasibility as a future research agenda objective.

Effect of 3-Month Water-Exercise Program on Body Composition in Elderly Women

“…This study considered the hydrogymnastics as an exercise carried out through realizing rhythmic-gymnastic activities in an aquatic environment, the latter which simultaneously counteracts gravity and increases physical capabilities (Kamioka et al, 2010), this type of exercise is especially recommended for people who have limitations with exercise on dry land (Kamioka et al, 2011) and which in the last ten years, has taken popularity and preference among elderly adults by taking advantage of the properties of water in order to provide fluidity and a wider range in movements while diminishing the risk of injuries due to impact (Kamioka et al, 2010(Kamioka et al, , 2011.…”

Underwater Walking Intensity is Modified by a New and Untested Device that Increased the Lower Limb Surface of Movement

“…Furthermore, the effectiveness of AP to increase the intensity in other types of exercise rather than underwater walking has not been proven. Future protocols should take into consideration investigating other types of population, especially people who need to exercise with low movement velocity, in particular for knee and / or hip osteoarthritis, where aquatic protocols are strongly recommended (29). Another interesting point concerns the capacity of the underwater waves to create unbalanced conditions (4).…”

Efecto del ejercicio físico de hidrogimnasia sobre la concentración sérica de inmunoglobulina A en mujeres adultas mayores

“…Las investigaciones anteriores presentaron resultados positivos en los niveles séricos y salivales de IgA con una duración del entrenamiento entre 4 y 12 meses, aplicando una modalidad de ejercicios cuyo impacto no contrarrestaba el efecto del peso del cuerpo sobre la gravedad, a diferencia de la hidrogimnasia en que el peso del cuerpo puede disminuir hasta en 10% 28,29 . Al respecto, una posible explicación radicaría en los mecanismos fisiológicos de adaptación derivados del ejercicio, por los cuales, la mé-dula ósea genera hematopoyesis ante el impacto del peso y de esa manera genera y libera leucocitos influyendo en la mejora de las concentraciones séricas de IgA 8 .…”