OBJECTIVES To estimate cost and outcomes of the Arthritis Foundation aquatic exercise classes from the societal perspective. DESIGN Randomized trial of 20-week aquatic classes. Cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained was estimated using trial data. Sample size was based on 80% power to reject the null hypothesis that the cost/QALY gained would not exceed $50,000. SUBJECTS AND METH...

Three fundamental principals associated with aquatic therapy differentiate it with respect to exercise on land, and in air. These are buoyancy (reduction in weight of the body within the buoyant medium of water), viscosity (a "drag force" is generated when moving within water, when compared with the same movement in air), and the thermodynamic aspect of water exercise, during which the heat cap...

Aquatic exercise programs may be a beneficial form of therapy for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP), particularly for those with significant movement limitations where land-based physical activity is difficult. The most recently published systematic review (2005) on aquatic interventions in children with CP found supportive but insufficient evidence on its effectiveness. The aim...

BACKGROUND The objectives of this review were to integrate the evidence of curative effects through aquatic exercise and assess the quality of studies based on a review of nonrandomized controlled trials (nRCTs). METHODS Study design was a systematic review of nonrandomized controlled trials. Trials were eligible if they were nonrandomized clinical trials. Studies included one treatment group...

BACKGROUND Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing worldwide and has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and high risk for chronic disease both for the mother and for the child. Physical exercise is feasible for diabetic pregnant women and contributes to better glycemic control and to a decrease in adverse perinatal outcomes. However, there are no randomized controlled tri...

Purpose: The aim of this study is to change one of the primary impairments associated with multiple sclerosis, i.e. ataxia, in which there is insufficient postural control. Materials and Methods: The current randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of aquatic exercise on postural control in MS ataxic patients. Thirty-two patients with multiple sclerosis with a degree of ataxia indic...

BACKGROUND The objective of this review was to summarize findings on aquatic exercise and balneotherapy and to assess the quality of systematic reviews based on randomized controlled trials. METHODS Studies were eligible if they were systematic reviews based on randomized clinical trials (with or without a meta-analysis) that included at least 1 treatment group that received aquatic exercise ...

The present study aims to characterize maximal continuous and intermittent efforts in head-out of water aquatic exercise and to determine the risk associated with this type of exercises by healthy persons. Ten healthy women (38.3 ± 9.4 years; 160.2 ± 6.2 cm; 50.0 ± 8.5 kg) experienced in head-out aquatic exercise participated in this study. Two maximal exercises of (I) 7 min continuous and (II)...

OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of aquatic interventions in children with neuromotor impairments. DESIGN A search of electronic databases that included MEDLINE, PubMed, ERIC, PsychLit, PEDro, Sport Discus, CINAHL and Cochrane between 1966 and January 2005 was conducted using the following keywords: 'hydrotherapy', 'aquatic therapy', 'water exercise', 'aquatics', 'adapted aquatics', '...