Background: Current management of osteoarthritis (OA) focuses on pain control and maintaining physical function through pharmacological, nonpharmacological, and surgical treatments. Exercise, including therapeutic aquatic exercise (TAE), is considered one of the most important management options. Nevertheless, there is no up-to-date systematic review describing the effect of TAE on symptoms and function associated with lower limb OA.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis to determine the effect of TAE on symptoms and function associated with lower limb OA.Data Sources: The data sources used in this study were: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, and SPORTDiscus.Study Selection: All studies selected for review were randomized controlled trials with an aquatic exercise group and a nontreatment control group. In total, 11 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the synthesis and meta-analysis.Data Extraction: Data were extracted and checked for accuracy by 3 independent reviewers.Data Synthesis: Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated for all outcomes. The meta-analysis showed a significant TAE effect on pain (SMD=0.26 [95% CI=0.11, 0.41]), self-reported function (SMD=0.30 [95% CI=0.18, 0.43]), and physical functioning (SMD=0.22 [95% CI=0.07, 0.38]). Additionally, a significant effect was seen on stiffness (SMD=0.20 [95% CI=0.03, 0.36]) and quality of life (SMD=0.24 [95% CI=0.04, 0.45]).Limitations: Heterogeneity of outcome measures and small sample sizes for many of the included trials imply that conclusions based on these results should be made with caution.Conclusions: The results indicate that TAE is effective in managing symptoms associated with lower limb OA.

Background ageing and sedentary behaviour cause negative changes in the neuromuscular systems of healthy older adults resulting in a decrease in physical functioning. Exercising in water (aquatic exercise, AE) has been shown to be effective at improving physical functioning in this population; however, no systematic review with meta-analysis has been published. Purpose to investigate the effect of AE on physical functioning in healthy older adults compared to control or land-based exercise (LE) through a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Data sources Medline, Embase, Cinahl, PEDro, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, published before 31st December 2015. Study selection in total, 28 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review; 24 studies with 1,456 subjects (89% female) and with mean age 66.4 years were included in the meta-analysis. Data extraction data were extracted and checked for accuracy by three independent reviewers. Data synthesis size of treatment effect was measured using the standardised mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results compared to control interventions, AE had a moderate positive effect on physical functioning 0.70 [95% CI 0.48 to 0.92]. Compared to LE, AE had a small positive effect on physical functioning 0.39 [0.12 to 0.66]. Limitations there is a high risk of bias and low methodological quality in the studies particularly when comparing AE to LE with possible over estimation of the benefit of AE. Conclusions AE may improve physical functioning in healthy older people and is at least as effective as LE.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a constellation of social deficits and repetitive sensory-motor behaviours. Aquatic therapy (AT) may be effective in improving the social interactions and behaviours in children with ASD. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an AT program on social competence and quality of life and to understand participant’s experiences related to the intervention by obtaining qualitative data. A mixed methods intervention study was conducted among 6 children with ASD and their parents, with two research phases in a concurrent embedded design (an aquatic intervention as the quantitative design and a qualitative design in second step). The intervention and qualitative design followed international guidelines and were integrated into the method and reporting subheadings. Significant improvement was observed in the physical competence (p = 0.026) and important improvements in school functioning and aquatic skills, with no adverse events. Qualitative findings described: the meaning of AT intervention, patterns of behaviour and activities changes, social communication and social interaction. The aquatic intervention showed positive results for the social and physical competence, with elements of discordance, expansion, and confirmation between quantitative and qualitative results.

Globally, around 1 in 10 children aged 0–17 years have moderate-to-severe disabilities. The aquatic environment provides hydrostatic and hydrodynamic characteristics that make exercise and therapy feasible for children and adolescents with disabilities. The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of evidence in relation to the use of aquatic therapy in children and adolescents with disabilities. The eligibility criteria were as follows: participants—children and/or adolescents with disabilities aged from 6 to 18 years old; concept—aquatic therapy interventions; context—any available setting. The databases searched included MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, AMED, Eric, Scopus, Web of Science, Epistemonikos, and one register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. In total, 52 reports met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies included children/adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; 46.7%)—442 participants in 21 studies in total. The majority of interventions were based on aquatic exercise (35%). Most often, interventions were conducted for 8 weeks, with 2 sessions a week lasting 60 min. The most common type of intervention for children and adolescents with ASD and Down syndrome was swimming. Participants with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, neuromuscular disorders, and cerebral palsy were more often treated with aquatic exercises. This scoping review could guide practitioners, clinicians, and researchers on what type, setting, and content of aquatic therapy interventions, including exercise types, intervention duration, number of sessions, frequency, facility, and provider, are used with children and adolescents with disabilities.

The aim of the study was to examine changes in objective and self-reported physical activity (PA) among women aged 60 years and older. The study included 200 women aged over 60 years, divided into three groups according to age (60–65 years, 66–70 years, > 70 years). The subjective assessment was provided with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) – short version with self-reported PA assessment, and objective data was provided by an Actigraph GT3-BT worn for seven days. Significant differences in moderate and high intensity PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA and steps per day were found between the oldest and youngest groups; as well as in low, moderate, moderate-to-vigorous PA and steps per day between groups middle and oldest. In all three age groups, 1) significant differences were observed between subjective and objective measurements of physical activity and 2) no correlation was found between assessment measures. It was found that only direct PA measurement declined with age in women over 60 years old, and that sedentary behavior is underestimated, and moderate and vigorous PA overestimated, with the self-reported IPAQ.