Effects of Different Frequencies (2-3 Days/Week) of Aquatic Therapy Program in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Non-Randomized Comparison Trial

Abstract

Objective: To study the effects of an aquatic therapy program with different frequencies (2 vs 3 days per week) in chronic low back pain. Desing: Non-randomized comparison trial. Setting: Sport and spa community health club. Subjects: Fifty-four adults with chronic low back pain (48.9±10.0 years). Intervention: Eight-week aquatic therapy program. Outcome Measures: Pain (visual analog scale [VAS]), disability (Oswestry Disability Index), and quality of life (Short-Form Health Survey 36), body composition (weight, body mass index, body fat mass, body fat percentage, and skeletal muscle mass), and health-related fitness (sit and reach, handgrip strength, curl-up, Rockport 1-mile test). Results: Both experimental groups presented significant improvements in low back pain and disability (P<0.001) compared with control group. The 3 days/week group showed significantly greater benefits at VAS flexion and disability (P<0.001) than the 2 days/week group. Regarding quality of life, both intervention groups presented significant differences for Physical Role (P<0.05), Bodily Pain (P<0.001), General Health (P=0.012), and Standardized Physical Component (P<0.001) compared with control group. Both experimental groups significantly improved all health-related fitness parameters (P<0.01). The 3 days/week group showed significantly greater benefits at curl-up and heart rate (P<0.001) than the 2 days/week group. No significant changes between treatment groups and control were found in body composition. Conclusions: Eight weeks of aquatic therapy program decrease levels of back pain and disability, increase quality of life, and improve health-related fitness in adults with chronic low back pain without effects in body composition. A dose-response effect was observed in some parameters, with greater benefits when exercising 3 days per week compared with 2 days. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.