Effects of water therapy on disease activity, functional capacity, spinal mobility and severity of pain in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Conclusion: Water therapy can benefit patients with ankylosing spondylitis by reducing disease activity and alleviating pain. More well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the results. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Water therapy can reduce disease activity and pain in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, but cannot improve functional capacity or spinal mobility. Due to its analgesic effect both during and after treatment, water therapy remains an alternative for patients with ankylosing spondylitis when land-based therapy is not well tolerated.
PMID: 31355676 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - July 28, 2019 Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Liang Z, Fu C, Zhang Q, Xiong F, Peng L, Chen L, He C, Wei Q Tags: Disabil Rehabil Source Type: research