Aquatic therapy improves pain, disability, quality of life, body composition and fitness in sedentary adults with chronic low back pain. A controlled clinical trial

Clin Rehabil. 2014 Apr;28(4):350-60. doi: 10.1177/0269215513504943. Epub 2013 Oct 31.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of a two-month intensive aquatic therapy programme on back pain, disability, quality of life, body composition and health-related fitness in sedentary adults with chronic low back pain.

Design: Controlled clinical trial.

Setting: Community.

Subjects: Forty-nine sedentary patients with chronic low back pain.

Interventions: Patients were allocated into active group (n = 24, two months, five times/week) or waiting list, control group (n = 25) according to space on the programme.

Main measures: Outcomes variables were pain (visual analogue scale), disability (Oswestry Disability Index), quality of life (Quality Short-Form Health Survey 36), body composition (weight, body mass index, body fat percentage and skeletal muscle mass) and health-related fitness (sit-and-reach, handgrip strength, curl-up, Rockport 1-mile test).

Results: The active group significantly improved low back pain (-3.83 ± 0.35 mm on the visual analogue scale ), disability (-12.7 ± 1.3 points for the Oswestry Disability Index) and the standardized physical component (10.3 ± 1.4 points for the Quality Short-Form Health Survey 36) of quality-of-life domains (P < 0.001), with no significant changes on the standardized mental component (P = 0.114). In relation to body composition and fitness, the active group showed significant improvements (all P-values < 0.01). The control group presented no significant change in any parameter.

Conclusions: A two-month intensive aquatic therapy programme of high-frequency (five times/week) decreases levels of back pain and disability, increases quality of life, and improves body composition and health-related fitness in sedentary adults with chronic low back pain.

Keywords: Aquatic therapy programme; chronic low back pain; disability; fitness; quality of life.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Composition / physiology
  • Chronic Pain / rehabilitation*
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Exercise Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrotherapy / methods*
  • Low Back Pain / rehabilitation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Pain Measurement / methods
  • Physical Fitness / physiology*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Sedentary Behavior*
  • Social Class
  • Spain