SynthesisPloS one2025
The effects of hydrotherapy on athletic ability in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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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.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Effects of Aquatic Exercise on Balance, Motor Function and Neuromuscular Performance in Children and Young Adults with Disabilities: A Systematic Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCerebral palsy (CP) is a disability caused by brain malformations or injuries occurring from conception to infancy. Hydrotherapy is a popular treatment for children with cerebral palsy and other neuromotor disorders. Despite evidence supporting the efficacy of hydrotherapy for treating children with cerebral palsy, there remains controversy regarding its effectiveness over different follow-up periods and in comparison with other physical therapy methods.
objectiveTo compare the effects of hydrotherapy on gross motor abilities, fine motor functions, balance, and muscle tone in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy, and to assess evaluate efficacy across different age stages and treatment durations.
methodsThis meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO (registration number CRD42024535838). Literature searches were conducted in databases including CNKI, VIP, WanFang, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library starting from June 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the effects of hydrotherapy on gross motor functions, fine motor functions, balance, and muscle tone in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy were included. RCTs were evaluated for quality using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Outcomes were analyzed by calculating mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
resultsSixteen studies were included, assessing the impact of hydrotherapy compared to conventional care on gross motor functions in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. The findings indicated that hydrotherapy significantly improved gross motor functions [SMD = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.15-0.68, I2 = 59.5%, p < 0.05], with consistent effects observed in children aged ≤6 years [SMD = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.16-0.68, I2 = 38.2%, p < 0.05] and those aged >6 years [SMD = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.22-0.63, I2 = 59.5%, p < 0.05]. Subgroup analysis based on intervention duration revealed that programs lasting more than 10 weeks were associated with significant improvements [SMD = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.31-0.66, I2 = 65.1%, p < 0.05], whereas no significant effects were found in interventions lasting 10 weeks or less [SMD = 0.14, 95% CI = -0.26-0.53, I2 = 35.6%, p > 0.05]. Hydrotherapy demonstrated a certain positive effect on fine motor functions [SMD = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.46-1.10, I2 = 46.4%, p > 0.05].In contrast, no statistically significant improvements were observed in balance [SMD = 0.64, 95% CI = -0.05-1.34, I2 = 80.7%, p > 0.05] or muscle tone [SMD = -0.45, 95% CI = -0.98-0.07, I2 = 58.2%, p > 0.05].
conclusionThe results indicate that hydrotherapy is more effective than conventional treatment in improving gross motor functions in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy, with consistent benefits observed across different age groups and in interventions of longer duration. Hydrotherapy also showed a positive trend in enhancing fine motor functions, although no significant improvements were observed in balance or muscle tone.
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