Role of Aquatic Therapy in Elderly with Knee Pain: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is increasingly prevalent; many patients require knee arthroplasty. The Indian
population had the highest prevalence of Knee Pain, 31.8%. Aquatic therapy offers a unique approach to addressing
knee pain, harnessing the buoyancy and support of water to create a nurturing environment for rehabilitation and
healing. There is a lack of studies investigating the long-term effects of Aquatic therapy on elderly knee pain subjects.
Most studies focus on short-to-medium-term outcomes, leaving a gap in understanding the sustainability of benefits
over long-term effects.
Methods: Literature Search: We systematically searched electronic databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the
Cochrane Library) from inception to April 2024.
Eligibility Criteria: Studies involving aquatic therapy in elderly people with knee pain and asymptomatic subjects
were included.
Findings of the review: The results suggest that a 12-week AC training program improves self-reported knee pain and
physical functioning in patients with mild-to-moderate knee OA. A Comprehensive review of existing studies reveals
that aquatic therapy significantly reduces pain and improves functional mobility in older adults suffering from knee
osteoarthritis and other chronic knee conditions.
Conclusion: Only land-based exercise showed some improvement in pain and muscle strength compared with the
control group, while no clinical benefits were detectable after aquatic exercise compared with the control group.
However, aquatic exercise has significantly fewer adverse effects than a land-based programme. Still, it is a beneficial
approach for managing knee pain in the elderly, offering significant improvements in pain relief, functionality and
Quality of life.