Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Musculoskeletal disorders and aquatic physical
therapy multimodality program: what is the
optimal frequency of treatment?
Cuesta A (1) , González M (1) , Kuisma R (2) , White M (3)
(1) Department of Psychiatry and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Malaga
(2) Patronato Municipal de Deportes de Torremolinos. Malaga, Spain
(3) University of Brighton, United Kingdom
mgsa23@uma.es
Introduction and Objectives
There is a limitation on the evidence available to know what the optimal frequency
of aquatic physiotherapy intervention in people with chronic musculoskeletal
problems. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends the
need for studies in this regard. Some previous studies have shown that a multimodal
program of physical therapy in water (MPPA) achieves best results when performed
twice with Respect to when performed only once. However, it is unknown what
effect causes the quality of life and health status of a MPPA when performed two or
three times a week.
Aim:
To establish whether there are differences in health status and quality of life of
people suffering from chronic musculoskeletal conditions when making a MPPA
two or three times a week and if there is some difference to establish which of the
two is more effective to be recommended as often optimal intervention in these
patients with this type of treatment .
Materials and Methods
A prospective pilot study was developed over 135 people suffering from osteoarthritis,
back pain or neck pain which made an MPPA, including manual therapy,
health education and therapeutic exercise for 8 weeks two (G2) or three (G3) times
per week, analyzing how it modified the state of health, quality of life and disability
that causes specific musculoskeletal problem in patients. Were measured at baseline,
at 8 weeks, 6 months and one year.
Results
Table 1
Conclusions
A MPPA seems to get similar results when performed two or three weekly sessions
in subjects suffering from chronic musculoskeletal disorders, nor short, nei-
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 370-371
370
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4