| arthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and | | | | The Cochrane reviewers looked at six trials that had |
| affects approximately 30 million Americans. OA | | | | 800 participants who all had OA. Four studies included |
| develops as a result of breakdown of joint cartilage, | | | | patients with osteoarthritis of either the knee or hip, |
| the gristle that caps the ends of long bones. This | | | | one study followed patients with only hip arthritis and |
| cartilage loss then causes the bones to rub against | | | | one included patients with knee arthritis only. |
| each other, leading to stiffness, pain and loss of | | | | In the studies, patients did aquatic exercises for |
| movement in the joint. The symptoms develop due to | | | | different lengths of time and numbers of sessions per |
| a combination of mechanical factors as well as local | | | | week and were compared to other patients who did |
| inflammation. | | | | no exercise or exercised on land. Most of the studies |
| OA is a disease of weight-bearing joints and as a | | | | measured patients after three months of therapy. |
| result causes a patient to have more trouble walking | | | | Based on the studies’ results, the reviewers |
| and climbing stairs. In fact, it’s been estimated | | | | said, “In people with osteoarthritis of the hip or |
| that more than 100,000 people with OA of the hip or | | | | knee, pain may decrease by 1 more point on a scale |
| knee can’t move independently from their bed | | | | of 0 to 20 with aquatic exercise, and function may |
| to the bathroom and need some form of assistance. | | | | improve by 3 more points on a scale of 0 to |
| This is a tragedy! | | | | 68.” |
| The treatment of osteoarthritis usually includes a | | | | “There is gold-level evidence that for |
| combination of medication, weight control, physical | | | | osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, aquatic exercise |
| therapy, injections, and exercise. | | | | probably slightly reduces pain and slightly improves |
| A special type of exercise therapy known as | | | | function over three months,” the reviewers |
| “pool therapy” or | | | | wrote. “Based on this, one may consider using |
| “hydrotherapy,” has patients doing | | | | aquatic exercise as the first part of a longer exercise |
| aerobic activities or stretching and strengthening and | | | | program for osteoarthritis patients.” |
| range of motion exercises, in water heated to about | | | | The reviewers were unable to find evidence on |
| 90 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit. | | | | whether aquatic exercise affected patients’ |
| A recent review of the efficacy of hydrotherapy was | | | | walking ability or stiffness after treatment sessions. |
| published in The Cochrane Library, a publication of The | | | | The reviewers added that more research could help |
| Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization | | | | determine long-term effects and to understand which |
| that evaluates research in all aspects of health care. | | | | kinds of aquatic exercise as well as frequency and |
| Systematic reviews allow evidence-based conclusions | | | | length might benefit osteoarthritis sufferers. |
| about medical practice after considering both the | | | | Author’s note: Water exercise makes sense |
| content and quality of existing trials on a topic. (Bartels | | | | for OA because the buoyancy relieves stress on |
| EM, et al. Aquatic exercise for the treatment of knee | | | | joints. It is the ultimate low impact workout. This is |
| and hip osteoarthritis (Review). Cochrane Database of | | | | particularly important for those patients with OA who |
| Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4). | | | | are overweight, which is, sadly, more common than |
| [The Cochrane Collaboration is an international | | | | not. The benefits that accrue to the patient include not |
| nonprofit, independent organization that produces and | | | | only relief of pain and improved mobility but if done |
| disseminates systematic reviews of health care | | | | often enough should help with weight loss. |
| interventions and promotes the search for evidence in | | | | For those people who do not have access to a pool, |
| the form of clinical trials and other studies of | | | | other low impact activities such as a stationary bike or |
| interventions. Visit for more information]. | | | | elliptical trainer might be beneficial. |