Abstract
Introduction: Hydrotherapy is an approach which uses water and its characteristics to maintain health, prevent and cure diseases. Hydrotherapy has been known throughout history in different regions. Recently it has been incorporated with conventional system of treatment also. The purpose of this literature is to view the current status of hydrotherapy in terms of clinical trials and research and to highlight the positive as well as negative aspects of hydrotherapy as compared to conventional system.
Methods: Various databases were extensively searched for articles consisting of clinical trials in humans using Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of science, and Sci Finder, etc. using the keywords such as hydrotherapy, clinical trials in hydrotherapy, randomized controlled clinical trials, clinical evidence in hydrotherapy, etc. This review article includes six retrospective years from 2012 to 2017.
Results: A total of nineteen clinical trials met the inclusion criteria. The hydrotherapy was used either alone or as an adjunct with a conventional system for treatment or reducing the symptoms severity as well as the quality of life in many conditions such as multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, postpartum pain, migraine, wound healing, musculoskeletal system, Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis, spastic paraparesis, hemophilia, etc.
Conclusions: People are using hydrotherapy as a treatment for various health conditions and its use in particular with the conventional system makes the outcome more effective and considerable in different diseases.