SynthesisBMJ open2023
Clinical effects of Kneipp hydrotherapy: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.
Synthesis in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Systematic review of clinical evidence for Kneipp medicine.Wiener klinische Wochenschrift · 2026Review
- Mind, body, health: qualitative insights into a holistic health concept for preschoolers.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Traditional Health Practices May Promote Nrf2 Activation Similar to Exercise.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- The untapped potential of cold water therapy as part of a lifestyle intervention for promoting healthy aging.GeroScience · 2025Review
- Managing Refractory Hypertension: A Case Study Exploring the Influence of ACE and ACTN3 Gene Polymorphisms.Pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine · 2025Article
- Hydrotherapy and acupressure in restless legs syndrome: results of a randomized, controlled, three-armed, pilot study (HYDRAC-study).Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
- Health promotion in German kindergartens-design and methods of the exploratory, cluster-randomized, mixed methods KNEIPP-KITA Bavaria study.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
- Effect of the health and wellness Kneipp concept on health promotion and reduction of sick days for kindergarten children: a cluster randomized controlled trial protocol.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveHydrotherapy is a traditional prevention and treatment strategy. This study's aim is to systematically review all available randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating clinical effects of hydrotherapy according to Kneipp which is characterised by cold water applications.
methodsRCTs on disease therapy and prevention with Kneipp hydrotherapy were included. Study participants were patients and healthy volunteers of all age groups. MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Central, CAMbase, and opengrey.eu were systematically searched through April 2021 without language restrictions and updated by searching PubMed until April 6th 2023. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool version 1.ResultsTwenty RCTs (N=4247) were included. Due to high heterogeneity of the RCTs, no meta-analysis was performed. Risk of bias was rated as unclear in most of the domains. Of 132 comparisons, 46 showed significant positive effects in favour of hydrotherapy on chronic venous insufficiency, menopausal symptoms, fever, cognition, emotional function and sickness absenteeism. However, 81 comparisons showed no differences between groups and 5 were in favour of the respective control group. Only half of the studies reported safety issues.
conclusionAlthough RCTs on Kneipp hydrotherapy seem to show positive effects in some conditions and outcomes, it remains difficult to ascertain treatment effects due to the high risk of bias and heterogeneity of most of the considered studies. Further high-quality RCTs on Kneipp hydrotherapy are urgently warranted. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021237611.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.