A pilot study of the comparative effectiveness of two water-based treatments for fibromyalgia syndrome: Watsu and Aix massage

Faull, Kieren

doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2004.12.001

Cited by 20 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The eleven articles included in the meta-analysis for pain (with a total of 159 participants, 127 of them receiving WATSU) reported comparable quantitative data on pain related to fibromyalgia [8,53,57,58,63], mental and occupational stress [56,59], juvenile idiopathic arthritis [51], ankylosing spondylitis [65], painful medical interventions in newborns [64], and pregnancy [9]. Pain was assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) [9,53,56,57,59,63], Physical Pain Subscale of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) [8,58], Numeric Rating Scale [65], Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) [64], and Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) [51]. The overall effect size was Hedges's g = -0.71 (95% CI = -0.91 to -0.51) in favor of WATSU (Fig 2).…”

Section: Meta-analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The five RCTs in the assessment were from Korea [10], New Zealand [8], India [50], Brazil [51], and Turkey [52], and the two non-randomized controlled trials (CTs) were from Israel [53] and Switzerland [9]. Control groups underwent no treatment [9,52], massage [8], active hydrotherapy [51,53], passive stretching on land and in water [10] or were not specified [50].…”

Section: Study Designs and Assessmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…to address musculoskeletal conditions [8,9] neurologic diseases [10][11][12][13], and mental distress [14][15][16], to complement palliative care [17,18], or to meet the needs of cognitively impaired individuals [19][20][21][22]. Originating in the Asian philosophy of maintenance and restoration of health, WATSU can be considered as a floating massage, a tool for rehabilitation, a guided meditation to foster mindfulness and resilience, and a mediator of personal and spiritual growth [8,14,[23][24][25].However, the literature concerning WATSU appears to have been neither systematically reviewed nor evaluated to date. In other words, the evidence to support its use as a differentiated treatment with specific objectives is not refined yet.Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to assess the applications, indications, and the effects of WATSU to form a basis for further studies.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Applications, indications, and effects of passive hydrotherapy WATSU (WaterShiatsu)—A systematic review and meta-analysis

et al. 2020

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Background WATSU (portmanteau word: water and shiatsu) is a form of passive hydrotherapy in chestdeep thermoneutral water (35˚C = 95˚F = 308.15 K). It combines elements of myofascial stretching, joint mobilization, massage, and shiatsu and is reported to be used to address physical and mental issues. The objective of this systematic review (PROSPERO Registration No. CRD42016029347) and the meta-analyses was to assess the applications, indications, and the effects of WATSU to form a basis for further studies. MethodsA search for "WATSU OR watershiatsu OR (water AND shiatsu)" was conducted without any restrictions in 32 databases. Peer reviewed original articles addressing WATSU as a stand-alone hydrotherapy were assessed for risk of bias. Quantitative data of effects on pain, physical function, and mental issues were processed in random model meta-analyses with subgroup analyses by study design. Effect sizes were expressed as Hedges's g (± 95% confidence intervals). ResultsOf 1,906 unique citations, 27 articles regardless of study design were assessed for risk of bias. WATSU has been applied to individuals of all ages. Indications covered acute (e.g. pregnancy related low back pain) and chronic conditions (e.g. cerebral palsy) with beneficial effects of WATSU regarding e.g. relaxation or sleep quality. Meta-analyses suggest beneficial effect sizes of WATSU on pain (overall Hedges's g = -0.71, 95% CI = -0.91 to -0.51), physical function (overall Hedges's g = -0.76, 95% CI = -1.08 to -0.44), and mental issues (overall Hedges's g = -0.68, 95% CI = -1.02 to -0.35). ConclusionVarious applications, indications and beneficial effects of WATSU were identified. The grade of this evidence is estimated to be low to moderate at the best. To strengthen the findings of this study, high-quality RCTs are needed. IntroductionWATSU (portmanteau word: English "water" and Japanese 指圧 "Shiatsu") was first described by its originator Dull in the 1980s as a treatment consisting of Japanese Shiatsu bodywork applied in thermal water [1]. To practice WATSU, a therapist stands in thermoneutral water (35˚C = 95˚F = 308.15 K), supporting the supine receiver with hands, forearms, or shoulders and softly moving her / him in slow and spacious circular motion sequences following elaborate movement patterns related to receiver's and therapist's level of experience [1]. The hands of the therapist function as a grip to facilitate movement and at the same time to stimulate acupuncture points. Gentle traction is applied to the body of the receiver to mobilize joints and stretch myofascial structures, as well as meridians, channels through which the life-energy (Chinese 氣 "qi", flows in the concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine [1,2]. During immersion, hydrostatic pressure influences fluid distribution, metabolism, and respiration. The impact of gravity is greatly reduced, thus decreasing joint loads and allowing maximal flexibility in the positioning of the treated individual [3,4]. The thermoneutral temperature of 35˚C is recommended because it all...

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Section: Meta-analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Designs and Assessmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Applications, indications, and effects of passive hydrotherapy WATSU (WaterShiatsu)—A systematic review and meta-analysis

et al. 2020

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“…A multidisciplinary approach combining each of these modalities may be the most beneficial. Other 105 1 1 Educational programs 106 1 1 CBT 107 1 1 Hair analysis 108 1 1 Surface EMG 109 1 1 Thyroid hormone 110 1 1 Water therapy 111 1 1 Chiropractic manipulation and cranial electrical stimulation 112 1 1 Acupuncture and diet 113 1 1 Survey of CAM therapies used by FMS patients referred to Mayo clinic 116 1 1 Psychologic profile of FMS attending private chiropractic clinics 117 1 1…”

Section: Published Guidelines Found On the Ngcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chiropractic Management of Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Schneider

Vernon

et al. 2009

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

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“…In the preliminary studies, the positive effect of watsu® therapy on flexibility, relaxation and ANS activity was observed (Tufekcioglu and Hassanain 2016, Barbosa et al 2014, Tufekcioglu et al 2010. Watsu has been recommended for chronic pain and fibromyalgia (Faull 2005), depression (Maczkowiak et al 2007) and for patients with hemiparesis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury (Chon et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of 12-Week Passive Aquatic Bodywork on Sympathovagal Balance of Obese Youth

Tufekcioglu¹,

Erzeybek²,

Kaya³

et al. 2018

JETS

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Background: Obesity has been identified as a global epidemic that is associated with numerous comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer, cardiovascular disease. We have investigated the effects of Watsu® therapy and Immersion on HRV parameters of obese male subjects. Methods and Results:Volunteer 34 obese subjects with BMI above 30 without any other chronic health issues were included (age, 18.30±.31, height, 166.02±29.60, BMI, 36.54±5.96). Randomized controlled trial was conducted with Watsu and Immersion protocols whereas control group received no therapy in water or on land for 12 weeks. A baseline HRV was recorded 5 minutes in four different circumstances. Polar H7 heart rate sensor and digital standardized HRV signal processing software were used to record the R-R intervals in millisecond. The repeated measures were used to compare the conditions between the therapies. The HRV analyses were performed using three-way Mixed ANOVA. Multiple comparisons were done with a Bonferroni adjustment of the alpha level (0.05). The collective results of HF showed significant negative effect (13.01±1.36, 9.99±1.11) and HF laying supine value (20.62±2.22) was the highest (p<0.05).Conclusion: A significant inverse correlation was found between HRV values and both therapeutic interventions. Counterintuitively, 12-week of watsu and immersion therapies decreased LF and HF.

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A pilot study of the comparative effectiveness of two water-based treatments for fibromyalgia syndrome: Watsu and Aix massage

Cited by 20 publications

References 24 publications

Applications, indications, and effects of passive hydrotherapy WATSU (WaterShiatsu)—A systematic review and meta-analysis

Applications, indications, and effects of passive hydrotherapy WATSU (WaterShiatsu)—A systematic review and meta-analysis

Chiropractic Management of Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Systematic Review of the Literature

The Effect of 12-Week Passive Aquatic Bodywork on Sympathovagal Balance of Obese Youth

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