Abstract

Low Back Pain (LBP) is a burdensome global health issue, particularly in the elderly, and while water-based therapy is a promising intervention, its application remains limited. This literature review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of water-based interventions in reducing pain and improving physical function in elderly patients with LBP, analysing six articles sourced from PubMed and Google Scholar (2015–2023). The results demonstrate that water-based interventions are significantly effective in reducing pain intensity and disability, and enhancing physical function (including posture and balance). Furthermore, a higher frequency of swimming was correlated with lower LBP pain levels. Consequently, water-based therapy is highly recommended as an effective complementary therapy for LBP in the elderly, largely due to the effect of water buoyancy; however, further studies are necessary due to the limited number of reviewed literature

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