Aquatic exercise and therapeutic swimming for musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review of functional outcomes and quality of life
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67964/tppd7y21Keywords:
Aquatic exercise, Therapeutic swimming, Musculoskeletal disorders, Quality of life, Physical functionAbstract
Musculoskeletal disorders not only cause pain and physical limitations but may also restrict daily activities and reduce quality of life, highlighting the need for effective and tolerable rehabilitation approaches. This study aimed to synthesize randomized controlled trial evidence on the effectiveness of swimming and structured aquatic exercise for clinical and functional outcomes in musculoskeletal disorders. A systematic review following PRISMA 2020 searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Wiley Online Library, Taylor & Francis, and Google Scholar for publications from 2015 to 2026. Of 412 records identified, eight RCTs met the eligibility criteria. The findings indicate that aquatic exercise primarily benefits pain and disability, while its superiority over land-based exercise depends on the clinical condition and outcome assessed, with some benefits diminishing during long-term follow-up. This review contributes by mapping effectiveness according to clinical condition, comparator, outcomes, safety, and durability, thereby supporting more appropriate rehabilitation strategies for community populations.
Abstrak
Gangguan muskuloskeletal tidak hanya menyebabkan nyeri dan keterbatasan fisik, tetapi juga dapat menghambat aktivitas sehari-hari dan menurunkan kualitas hidup, sehingga diperlukan pendekatan rehabilitasi yang efektif dan dapat ditoleransi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mensintesis bukti randomized controlled trials mengenai efektivitas renang dan latihan akuatik terstruktur terhadap luaran klinis dan fungsional pada gangguan muskuloskeletal. Systematic review ini mengikuti PRISMA 2020 melalui pencarian PubMed, Cochrane Library, Wiley Online Library, Taylor & Francis, dan Google Scholar untuk publikasi tahun 2015–2026. Dari 412 records yang diidentifikasi, delapan RCT memenuhi kriteria inklusi. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa latihan akuatik terutama memberikan manfaat terhadap nyeri dan disabilitas, tetapi keunggulannya dibandingkan latihan berbasis darat bergantung pada kondisi dan luaran yang dinilai, sementara sebagian manfaat menurun pada tindak lanjut jangka panjang. Review ini berkontribusi dengan memetakan efektivitas berdasarkan kondisi, pembanding, luaran, keamanan, dan keberlanjutan efek untuk mendukung strategi rehabilitasi yang lebih tepat bagi masyarakat.
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