Aquatic therapy
Aquatic therapy has been studied in 5 papers since 2021: 2 trials in people, 3 reviews; 2 in the past year. The newest paper, Mar 30, 2026: “Effectiveness of aquatic Tai Chi on balance indicators: a systematic review”.
“improvements in gait speed seem primarily driven by aquatic therapy.”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 3 independent labs in 3 countries
- Funder: University of Tehran
- Human trial2
Studies in people
2 studies gave aquatic therapy to people and measured what changed.
up: Improves balance~2.7 points vs -3.6 points
down: Decreases fatigue-9.0 points vs +5.5 points
Randomized trial26 people8 weeks
Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, Nov 7, 2025
Randomized trial68 peoplewomenaged 63–68 years8 weeks
Elderly women with knee osteoarthritis
BMC geriatrics, Sep 2, 2025
What did studies of Aquatic therapy find?
4Studies of Aquatic therapy measured 4 outcomes; the most studied are balance (2 studies), gait speed (1) and fatigue (1).
Balance
upin humans2
2 studies
Balance
upin humans2
Aquatic therapy improves balance in humans (~2.7 points vs -3.6 points).
“The AT group's BBS score increased by ∼2.7 points (to 55.3 ± 1.3), while the control group's BBS decreased by ∼3.6 points (to 50.0 ± 3.1).”
Human trialrelapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis8 weeksn = 26
Multiple sclerosis and related disorders
Aquatic therapy improves balance in humans (SMD -1.13, 95% CI [-1.45 to -0.82]).
“aquatic therapy had a significant effect on dynamic balance (SMD, - 1.13; 95% CI, [- 1.45 to (- 0.82)]; I2 = 77%).”
Reviewhealthyn = 385
Effects of aquatic therapy on balance in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
European geriatric medicine
Gait speed
upin humans1
1 study
Gait speed
upin humans1
Aquatic therapy improves gait speed in humans.
“Similarly, the Aquatic Therapy + Sham tDCS group showed significantly higher gait speed than both the Real tDCS group and the Sham tDCS group.”
Human trial8 weeksfemalesn = 68
BMC geriatrics
Aquatic therapy improves gait speed in humans (p ≤ 0.05).
“improvements in gait speed seem primarily driven by aquatic therapy.”
Human trialknee osteoarthritis8 weeksfemalesn = 68
BMC geriatrics
Fatigue
downin humans1
1 study
Fatigue
downin humans1
Aquatic therapy decreases fatigue in humans (-9.0 points vs +5.5 points).
“MFIS total scores decreased by 9.0 points in the AT group versus a 5.5-point increase in the control group.”
Human trialrelapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis8 weeksn = 26
Multiple sclerosis and related disorders
Depressive symptoms
downin humans1
1 study
Depressive symptoms
downin humans1
Aquatic therapy decreases depressive symptoms in humans.
“Aquatic therapy, leveraging water's buoyancy, improves functional outcomes and reduces depressive symptoms”
Reviewrheumatoid arthritis
Physical activity of older patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatology international