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Health practitioners should prioritize hydrokinesiotherapy early in knee osteoarthritis treatment to relieve pain and improve mobility, especially for patients with severe symptoms.
Hydrokinesiotherapy, also known as water-based exercise therapy significantly improves key clinical outcomes, including pain relief, joint mobility, and overall quality of life in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis (OA), as per a scoping review published in MDPI - Journal of Clinical Medicine. With such promising results, hydrokinesiotherapy could become a valuable component in knee OA treatment plans.
Traditional land-based physical therapy and self-guided exercises have long been the go-to options, but water-based therapies are gaining attention. Five randomized trials evaluated water-based against land-based physical therapy for knee OA, using measures, such as the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Score (WOMAC), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) to assess outcomes. The studies were appraised for quality and bias with the PEDro scale and RoB-2 tool.
Hydrokinesiotherapy consistently delivered better outcomes, with patients reporting less pain and improved movement. The water’s buoyancy reduces stress on joints, while its warmth promotes blood circulation and muscle relaxation, offering unique benefits that land exercises may not provide, particularly for those struggling with weight-bearing activities.
Although more research is needed to assess the long-term effects of this therapy, hydrokinesiotherapy is emerging as a vital alternative or complement to traditional rehabilitation, especially for those with severe OA symptoms.
MDPI - Journal of Clinical Medicine
Harnessing the Power of Water: A Scoping Review of Hydrokinesiotherapy as a Game-Changer in Knee Osteoarthritis Management
Roberto Tedeschi et al.
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