Bunæs-Næss H, Kvæl LAH, Nilsson BB, Heywood S, Heiberg KE. Aquatic high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be similarly effective to land-based HIIT in improving exercise capacity in people with chronic conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2023;
9:e001639. [PMID:
38022764 PMCID:
PMC10649609 DOI:
10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001639]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective
To investigate the effect of aquatic high-intensity interval training (AHIIT) on exercise capacity in people with chronic conditions.
Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Participants
Adults (age ≥18 years) with any chronic conditions (long duration, continuing health problems).
Data sources
The databases Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTSDiscus, PEDro and The Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 11 August 2023.
Eligibility criteria
Randomised or non-randomised controlled trials of adults reporting one or more chronic conditions were included, comparing the effect of AHIIT with a non-exercising control group, land-based high-intensity interval training (LBHIIT) or aquatic moderate-intensity continuous training (AMICT).
Results
Eighteen trials with 868 participants with chronic musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic or neurological conditions were included. Adherence to AHIIT was high, ranging from 84% to 100%. There was moderate certainty in evidence according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system for a moderate beneficial effect on exercise capacity standardised mean differences (SMD) 0.78 (95% CI 0.48 to 1.08), p<0.00001) of AHIIT compared with a non-exercising control group. There was moderate certainty in evidence for no difference of effects on exercise capacity (SMD 0.28 (95% CI -0.04 to 0.60), p=0.08) of AHIIT compared with LBHIIT. There was moderate certainty in evidence for small effect on exercise capacity (SMD 0.45 (95% CI 0.10 to 0.80), p=0.01) of AHIIT compared with AMICT.
Conclusion
There are beneficial effects of AHIIT on exercise capacity in people with a range of chronic conditions. AHIIT has similar effects on exercise capacity as LBHIIT and may represent an alternative for people unable to perform LBHIIT.
PROSPERO registration number
CRD42022289001.
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