TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of aquatic therapy on balance and gait in stroke survivors
T2 - A systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Nayak, Pradeepa
AU - Mahmood, Amreen
AU - Natarajan, Manikandan
AU - Hombali, Aditi
AU - Prashanth, C. G.
AU - Solomon, John M.
PY - 2020/5
Y1 - 2020/5
N2 - Background: The evidence on aquatic therapy (AT) for improving balance and gait deficits post-stroke is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of AT on balance and gait in stroke survivors. Methods: We searched CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Aqua4balance, Ewac, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases from inception to 1st November 2019. Results: Eleven studies with 455 participants were included for the review. Meta-analysis showed that AT was effective for improving balance (MD 3.23, 95% CI 1.06, 5.39; p = 0.004; I2 = 61%) and gait speed (MD 0.77, 95% CI 0.25, 1.29; p = 0.004; I2 = 0%) when delivered alone. AT was effective in improving cadence (MD 4.41, 95% CI 0.82, 8.00; p = 0.02; I2 = 68%) when delivered as an adjunct to land-based therapy. Conclusion: AT may be used to improve balance and gait after stroke; however, the evidence to support its use is still low.
AB - Background: The evidence on aquatic therapy (AT) for improving balance and gait deficits post-stroke is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of AT on balance and gait in stroke survivors. Methods: We searched CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Aqua4balance, Ewac, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases from inception to 1st November 2019. Results: Eleven studies with 455 participants were included for the review. Meta-analysis showed that AT was effective for improving balance (MD 3.23, 95% CI 1.06, 5.39; p = 0.004; I2 = 61%) and gait speed (MD 0.77, 95% CI 0.25, 1.29; p = 0.004; I2 = 0%) when delivered alone. AT was effective in improving cadence (MD 4.41, 95% CI 0.82, 8.00; p = 0.02; I2 = 68%) when delivered as an adjunct to land-based therapy. Conclusion: AT may be used to improve balance and gait after stroke; however, the evidence to support its use is still low.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101110
DO - 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101110
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85078857197
SN - 1744-3881
VL - 39
JO - Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery
JF - Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery
M1 - 101110
ER -