A new study suggests that aquatic therapy for individuals with chronic low back pain can do more than strengthen the muscles around the spine. It can also have a beneficial impact on the negative psychological factors that are often associated with the disabling disease.

The study used a randomized controlled trial involving two groups of chronic low back pain patients. It found that participants who took part in aquatic therapy reported improvements in pain-related fear and sleep disturbance compared to those who followed standard care programs.

The authors believe that this study shows preliminary evidence that links aquatic therapy with improved psychological outcomes for individuals with low back pain. Their findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Participants attended two sessions weekly for 10 weeks where they engaged either in a standard treatment (which included land-based exercises) or in a standardized aquatic therapy strengthening program focusing on exercises targeting the torso and hips.
They also completed questionnaires about pain, disability, quality of life, pain-related fears, depression, anxiety and sleep quality.

The aquatic therapy group showed significant increase in muscle size in the multifidus and the erector spinae in the upper spine, two sets of spinal muscles that are crucial to spinal stabilization as well as a reduction in anxiety, pain-based fears and sleep disturbances.

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