The use of aquatic physiotherapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal upper extremity disorders: a scoping review. [Protocol]

Murray, Lynn; Kennedy, Michelle; Alexander, Lyndsay; Malone, Michael; Mair, Lyn

Abstract

To identify existing literature related to aquatic exercise therapy used to manage upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders and identify key concepts, intervention components, and gaps in the evidence base. Musculoskeletal conditions are a global challenge with significant related disability and cost to society. Upper limb musculoskeletal conditions have been reported across the lifespan and aquatic therapy has been included as part of the management for this condition. There is a need to map the global evidence on this topic to inform subsequent research. Inclusion criteria: Participants – Adults with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders; Concept – Aquatic based exercise therapy, Context – any setting in any very highly developed nation. Published and unpublished evidence in any language accessible by Google Translate and from data base inception will be included. BI Scoping review methodology will guide this review. MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL(EBSCOHost), Embase (Ovid), CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) data bases and grey literature sources such as aquatic special interest groups, The Networked Digital Library Theses and Dissertations (NDTLD), e-theses online service (EThOS) and Google will be searched using a three-step search strategy. Title and abstract screening and then full text screening will be conducted by two independent reviewers for both stages. Any conflicts will be resolved by consensus or a third reviewer. Data relevant to the review question will be extracted by two independent reviewers for subsequent analysis. Descriptive content analysis will be performed and results will be presented using a range of visual methods with accompanying narratives.

Citation

MURRAY, L., KENNEDY, M., ALEXANDER, L., MALONE, M. and MAIR, L. 2022. The use of aquatic physiotherapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal upper extremity disorders: a scoping review. [Protocol]. Hosted on OSF [online]. Available from: https://osf.io/8nxqg

• Other Type: Protocol
• Online Publication Date: Sep 1, 2022
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Feb 10, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 10, 2025
• Publisher: OSF: Center for Open Science
• Keywords: Aquatic therapy; Arm injury; Hydrotherapy; Physiotherapy
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2701738
• Publisher URL: https://osf.io/8nxqg
• Related Public URLs: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2696203 (Journal article published in Clinical Rehabilitation)
• Additional Information: The draft protocol is available from: https://osf.io/8nxqg