Hydrotherapy Study on Rheumatoid Arthritis

A recent study found that hydrotherapy is particularly beneficial for arthritis sufferers. One hundred thirty-nine patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to receive hydrotherapy, seated immersion, land exercise, or progressive relaxation.

Patients attended 30-minute sessions twice weekly for 4 weeks. Physical and psychological measures were completed before and after intervention, and again at a 3-month follow-up.

The results showed that all patients improved physically and emotionally, as assessed by the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 questionnaire. The patients' belief that their pain was controlled by chance happenings decreased, signifying not just improvement in their condition but also in their belief to be able to manage their symptoms.

However the data revealed conclusively that the hydrotherapy patients showed significantly greater improvement in joint tenderness and in knee range of movement (women only) than the other patients. And at the follow-up measurement, the hydrotherapy patients maintained the improvement in emotional and psychological state.

The report concluded that although all patients experienced some benefit, "hydrotherapy produced the greatest improvements", and the researchers stated that there is clear evidence of the benefits of hydrotherapy for arthritis sufferers to support the continued use of this therapy as an effective adjunct treatment.

Hall J; Skevington SM; Maddison PJ; Chapman K A randomized and controlled trial of hydrotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis.Arthritis Care Res (UNITED STATES) Jun 1996, 9 (3) p206-15