Summary: In adults with type 2 diabetes, a five-week aquatic exercise programme produced within-group improvements in blood pressure, respiratory function, and walking capacity, but showed no statistically significant advantage over the control group.
PICO Summary
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Population | 52 adults with type 2 diabetes (intervention n=27, control n=25). |
| Intervention | Structured aquatic conditioning, three times weekly for five weeks (15 sessions). |
| Comparison | Control group receiving only an educational lecture at study end. |
| Outcome | Within the intervention group: lower systolic (p=0.019) and diastolic (p=0.011) BP, improved MIP (p=0.015), PEF (p=0.01), and 6-minute walk distance (p=0.001). No significant between-group differences on any outcome. |
Expert Commentary
Aquatic exercise is something I genuinely value for the patient whose knees, neuropathy, or weight make land-based training a misery, so I wanted this trial to deliver. The honest reading is that it did not, at least not in the way the headline suggests. Yes, the intervention group improved over time on blood pressure, respiratory measures, and walking distance, but the comparison that actually matters, between the exercise and control groups, showed no significant difference on any outcome. Within-group change without between-group separation is a familiar pattern in small, short trials, and it does not establish that the aquatic programme beat usual care. With 52 people over five weeks and only surrogate endpoints, this is underpowered to prove superiority. Can I use this with my patients? Yes, but framed accurately: aquatic exercise is a safe, joint-friendly option I am happy to offer the patient who cannot do land-based activity, as one acceptable modality within a broader activity prescription, not as something proven better than the alternatives. I would want a larger, longer trial before claiming a genuine comparative advantage.
References
Calixto Júnior R, Terra AMSV, Gonçalves GCV, et al. Effects of an aquatic exercise protocol on blood pressure, respiratory function, and functional capacity in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2025;44:97–105. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2025.05.066