Health-related quality of life and musculoskeletal function in patients with musculoskeletal disorders: after compared to before short-term group-based aqua-exercises

Abstract

This study assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and musculoskeletal function in patients with musculoskeletal disorders after participation in group-based aqua-exercising, compared to before participation. Physiotherapists instructed group-based aqua-exercising for 30 min twice a week for 8 weeks in 39 patients (81% women, mean age 55 ± 12 years), with musculoskeletal disorders located in the back (28%), neck (17%), general myalgia (21%), lower extremities (9%), shoulder (7%) and multiple/other regions (18%). Before and after the aqua-exercising, physiotherapists assessed patients’ musculoskeletal function categorized using Goal Attainment Scaling, and HRQoL was measured using EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D). The median EQ-5D score was 0.36 (25th–75th percentiles 0.09–0.69) at the start, and after the intervention improved to 0.62 (0.09–0.73) (p = 0.038). The EQ-5D score and musculoskeletal function improved in 49% (EQ-5D) and 34% (physiotherapist assessment), were stable in 33% and 63%, and worsened in 18% and 7% of patients, respectively. In conclusion, comparable with improvements previously seen after more time-consuming exercise periods, patients with musculoskeletal disorders had improved HRQoL after 8 weeks of aqua-exercising compared to before exercising. This uncontrolled feasibility study does not reveal whether this was the result of aqua-exercising. The effects and costs need to be evaluated in randomized controlled studies.

Keywords:

• Aqua-therapy
• hydrotherapy
• locomotor diseases
• physiotherapy
• primary healthcare

Notes

Acknowledgements

We thank the participating patients, the physiotherapists leading the aqua-exercising groups and the physiotherapists assessing the functional status of the patients.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Funding information

The study was funded by Linköping University and the Region of Östergötland.

Notes

1 Each patient consumed 130 therapist minutes (480 min/12 patients (= 40 min) + 90 min at 220 sek/60 min² = 770 sek, and 53 min in the pool (16 sessions ×40 min, including entering/leaving =640 min/12 patients) at 450 sek/60 min³ = 400 sek.

2 A public primary healthcare physiotherapist earns a mean of 36,671 sek/month (23,968 sek exclusive of indirect costs of 53%), or 220 sek/h.

3 According to prices in the evaluated county council.