Aquatic exercise may ease knee osteoarthritis pain, but walking benefits remain unclear
A review of nine trials found aquatic exercise may reduce pain and improve physical function in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Evidence for walking benefits remained uncertain, and the authors did not identify an optimal exercise plan.
A review published in Frontiers in Physiology on Nov. 5 found that aquatic exercise may ease pain among older adults with knee osteoarthritis. It included nine randomized trials with 499 participants.1
The analysis found less pain than control conditions, but the evidence was rated low certainty and results varied widely. It also found better physical function, while possible balance gains came from only two studies. Walking ability did not improve significantly, and the review rated evidence for that outcome very low.1
The authors said the evidence did not identify an optimal aquatic exercise prescription. For trainers, the findings left aquatic exercise as a possible low-impact option, not a proven prescription for older clients with knee osteoarthritis.1
