Aquatic exercises for cystic fibrosis patients: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION

Cystic fibrosis is a multisystem, autosomal recessive genetic disease characterized by dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene.

OBJECTIVE

Identify and map available evidence on water activities for CF.

METHODOLOGY: This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines and was prospectively registered in the Open Science Framework. Comprehensive searches were conducted in five databases (PubMed, SCIELO, Lilacs, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) without restrictions on language or publication date. Gray literature was also reviewed. Data were extracted using a standardized form and analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

Three articles met the eligibility criteria: two intervention studies and one literature review. All studies employed swimming as the primary form of aquatic physical activity. The publications ranged from 1981 to 2013. Short-term improvements in lung function were observed following swimming-based interventions.

CONCLUSION

Swimming is the most commonly practiced aquatic activity among individuals with CF. However, current evidence supporting the use of aquatic exercise (AE) in this population remains limited. Further randomized controlled trials are recommended to assess the effectiveness of AE across different age groups, followed by systematic reviews to consolidate findings.