Abstract

Objetive: to perform a literature review on the effectiveness of aquatic therapy in the treatment of hemiplegic patient rehabilitation to help the disclosure of this therapy as an alternative treatment for these patients and their subsequent use in the rehabilitation of balance. Material and method: bibliographic search to carry out a literature review in major data bases of health sciences (Cochrane, Medline, Pubmed, Science Direct and Scopus), using as keywords: hydrotherapy, aquatic therapy, stroke, hemiplegia, hemiparesis, neurology and balance. Some of the inclusion criteria that were taken into account were that they were randomized clinical trials and that this population had suffered a stroke with a minimum length of existence of 6 months. In the beginning, we obtained a total of 40 articles, which after assessment of them following the inclusion and exclusion criteria 8 articles were extracted. The main variables analyzed in the articles were balance, gait, weight-bearing ability, muscle strength and proprioception. Results: the results show benefits in the variables analyzed, producing mainly the improvement in balance and gait. Conclusion: aquatic therapy is another method of treatment that brings great improvements in these patients. But in spite of this we should n´t forget the need for further studies on this topic and more specifically the use of aquatic therapy in rehabilitation of balance.