A new research paper from the Department of Nursing at Konyang University in Korea looked at how aquatic exercises affect patients with osteoarthritis. The study was published by the US National Library of Medicine.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says osteoarthritis is a common musculoskeletal disease caused by aging. It affects 12.5% of people in Korea. Among those over 50, 5.1% of men and 18.9% of women have it. Three out of ten women over 70 are affected, and it most often appears in the knees.
Osteoarthritis is a long-term disease related to aging. It usually starts between the ages of 50 and 60 and often affects the knees and hips. The main symptom is pain, but people may also have stiff, weak, or unstable joints. These problems can make daily activities harder, lower the quality of life, and cause inflammation throughout the body.
The new review examined studies published in both Korean and English, including recent research that had not been previously covered. It measured how aquatic exercise programs affect pain, quality of life, and joint problems in people with osteoarthritis.
Researchers searched six national and international databases for randomized controlled trials on aquatic exercise programs for people with osteoarthritis.
Out of 20 studies, the meta-analysis found that aquatic exercise reduced pain more than a control group and was more effective than land-based exercise.
Another analysis showed that aquatic exercise improved quality of life compared to a control group.
The analysis also found that aquatic exercise reduced joint problems compared to the control group.
For people with osteoarthritis, aquatic exercise programs help reduce pain and joint problems and improve quality of life.
You can read the full study on the US National Library of Medicine website at the link below
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8955208/#sec1-healthcare-10-00560