title: Effect of watergym in knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the effectiveness of watergym to alleviate knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms and improve locomotor function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two volunteers, 38 women and four men with OA, practicing watergym, divided into the following groups: beginners, intermediate, advanced, and advanced level with other physical activities in addition to watergym were included in the study. Individuals were assessed at times zero, 8 and 12 weeks, with classes lasting 45 minutes, twice a week. Function was assessed by the Aggregate Locomotor Function (ALF) score, and pain and other symptoms by the visual analogical scale (VAS) and by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out by the variance analysis for repeated measurements, followed by Tukey's method for comparison of time point means whenever required.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the tests showed a significant improvement of pain or locomotion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Watergym was not effective in improving symptoms and did not affect the locomotor capacity of individuals with knee OA. Level of evidence IV, Case series.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Filho, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Botucatu, SP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Filho-Unesp, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Paulo Fernandes
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Guerreiro
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Filho, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Botucatu, SP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Filho-Unesp, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renan Floret Turin
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Claro
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Filho, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Botucatu, SP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Filho-Unesp, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Daniel
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Filho, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Botucatu, SP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Filho-Unesp, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Beatriz Funayama Alvarenga
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Freire
keywords: Hydrotherapy; Knee; Motor Activity; Osteoarthritis