Hydrotherapy for the Treatment of Pain in People withMultiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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Castro Sánchez, Adelaida María; Matarán Peñarrocha, Guillermo Adolfo; Lara Palomo, Inmaculada; Saavedra Hernández, Manuel; Arroyo Morales, Manuel; Moreno Lorenzo, CarmenEditorial
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Date
2011-07-14Referencia bibliográfica
Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez, Guillermo A. Matarán-Peñarrocha, Inmaculada Lara-Palomo, Manuel Saavedra-Hernández, Manuel Arroyo-Morales, Carmen Moreno-Lorenzo, "Hydrotherapy for the Treatment of Pain in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2012, Article ID 473963, 8 pages, 2012. [https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/473963]
Abstract
Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating neurological disease. Several studies have reported that
complementary and alternative therapies can have positive effects against pain in these patients. Objective. The objective was
to investigate the effectiveness of an Ai-Chi aquatic exercise program against pain and other symptoms in MS patients. Methods.
In this randomized controlled trial, 73MS patients were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group for a 20-week
treatment program. The experimental group underwent 40 sessions of Ai-Chi exercise in swimming pool and the control group
40 sessions of abdominal breathing and contraction-relaxation exercises in therapy room. Outcome variables were pain, disability,
spasm, depression, fatigue, and autonomy, which were assessed before the intervention and immediately and at 4 and 10weeks
after the last treatment session. Results. The experimental group showed a significant (P < 0.028) and clinically relevant decrease
in pain intensity versus baseline, with an immediate posttreatment reduction in median visual analogue scale scores of 50% that
was maintained for up to 10weeks. Significant improvements were also observed in spasm, fatigue, disability, and autonomy.
Conclusion. According to these findings, an Ai-Chi aquatic exercise program improves pain, spasms, disability, fatigue, depression,
and autonomy in MS patients.