Ortiz et al (2023) Clinical effects of Kneipp hydrotherapy a systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Kneipp hydrotherapy (KH), characterized by cold water applications, is a traditional therapeutic and preventive health strategy. This systematic review analyzed 20 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 4,247 participants to evaluate the clinical effects of KH on various health conditions.

The findings highlight potential benefits of KH for conditions such as chronic venous insufficiency, menopausal symptoms, fever in children, and certain cardiovascular and mental health disorders. Positive effects were observed on quality of life, emotional functioning, and sickness absenteeism. For example, KH improved symptoms like varicosis-related pain, anxiety, and depression. However, a significant portion of the studies showed no differences compared to control groups, and some favored the control interventions.

The review underscores challenges in assessing KH’s effectiveness due to high variability in study methodologies and a general risk of bias. While KH is widely regarded as safe, only half of the studies included safety data, reporting few serious adverse events.

The study emphasizes the need for high-quality RCTs with standardized methodologies to validate KH’s therapeutic potential further. Current evidence suggests KH is a promising complementary approach but requires more robust data to establish its clinical utility.