The influence of aquatic activity on osteoarthritis

© 2024 Medical University of Lublin. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonComercial-No Derivs licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/) Abstract Introduction. In 2020, osteoarthritis (OA) affected up to 595 million people in the world, which is 7% of the population. Three quarters of them are over 55 years old and 60% are women. The pathophysiological basis of degenerative disease is a disturbance in the balance between the processes of formation and degradation of articular cartilage. Additionally, degeneration processes affect other elements of the musculoskeletal system, such as the synovial capsule, ligaments and muscles around the joint. Due to the severe pain, degenerative disease leads to a significant reduction in the quality of life and limited mobility. In the final stage it leads to disability. Arthritis most often involves the knee, hip joints, arms as well as vertebral column. To slow down the degenerative processes and minimize the complications of the disease, effective preventive methods should be implemented as soon as possible. Especially since there is currently no effective drug available for this disease. A popular method of combating pain is aquatic activity. The physical properties of water have a positive effect on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. This review article assessed the effectiveness of aquatherapy depending on risk factors and the stage of osteoarthritis. Aim. Review and presentation of the current state of knowledge about water exercises on the course of osteoporosis, taking into account groups at risk of degenerative disease. Material and methods. Analysis of the studies available on open access sources at PubMed, Google Scholar, National Library of Medicine and Coachrane. The research was conducted through word analysis key words such as: “arthritis”, „aquatic activity”, „osteoarthritis”. Selection criteria for articles included consideration of their title, abstract, and publication date, with a focus on English-language publications. Conclusion and Results.This article demonstrates the positive impact of water exercises on the course of osteoporosis, as well as their preventive effect. The relationship between hydrotherapy and OA in individual risk groups was presented. Aquatic activity has been shown to be effective in inhibiting degenerative processes, reducing joint stiffness, improving walking distance, and mental condition. Keywords: osteoarthritis, aquatic activity, arthritis, WOMAC, degenerative disease, DALY.