Journal of Yoga & Physical Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Is Aquatic Physical Therapy a Feasible Treatment for Musculoskeletal Dysfunction of Sickle Cell Disease Patients?

Camila Tatiana Zanoni, Fábio Galvão, Alberto Cliquet Junior and Teresinha Olalla Saad

Physical therapy is an adjunct measure for treating osteo-articular disorders, with the objective of minimizing pain and limiting the progression of the disorder, thus improving functional capacity and quality of life of the patient. The aim of this short review is to describe the common techniques used for aquatic physical therapy and to comment a pilot study, comparing this technique to land-based physical therapy on musculoskeletal dysfunction of sickle cell disease patients. The results suggest that physical therapy is efficient, irrespective of the technique; however, aquatic therapy showed a trend towards an improvement in muscle strength. This preliminary report encourages further studies with a larger patient sample and longer periods of therapy.