Brazilian Journal of Pain
https://brjp.org.br/article/doi/10.63231/2595-0118.202676-en
Brazilian Journal of Pain
Original Article

Perceptions of chronic low back pain and sleep quality among participants in aquatic physical therapy: qualitative study

Percepção sobre dor lombar crônica e qualidade de sono em indivíduos participantes de fisioterapia aquática: estudo qualitativo

Fernanda Aquino Costa; Jessica Dias Cardoso; Milena Paola Schuck; Valmor Ramos; Iramar Baptistella do Nascimento

http://dx.doi.org/10.63231/2595-0118.202676-en BrJP, vol.9, e202676, 2026
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain (CP), such as chronic nonspecific low back pain, represents a global challenge, affecting about 20% to 30% of the world's population. The objective of this study was to investigate the perception of individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP) regarding the impacts of aquatic therapy (AT) on their pain and sleep quality (SQ).

METHODS: This is a qualitative, descriptive study, from a larger, experimental study, conducted with individuals with CLBP, aged between 18 and 65 years of both genders. The study was conducted at a public university in Santa Catarina. A Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and open interviews about the AT sessions were used as data collection instruments. Content analysis was used to interpret the data.

RESULTS: Thirteen participants (8 females and 5 male) with a mean age of 47.4 years participated in the study. The data emerged in the following categories: (1) Pain threshold in the lumbar spine when performing AT with the VAS; (2) Immediate perceptions after AT, regarding how participants felt when participating in the study; (3) Impressions of SQ, regarding sleeping well at night. The perceptions of pain and pain relief when participating in the study were reported, as well as the importance of adopting active behavior when performing aquatic exercises, the factor of belonging to the group and the comprehension of sleep in health.

CONCLUSION: In the perception of the individuals participating in the study, AT helped to improve pain and SQ.

Keywords

Aquatic therapy; Low back pain; Sleep

Resumo

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dor musculoesquelética crônica (DC), como a dor lombar crônica inespecífica, representa um desafio global acometendo cerca de 20% a 30% da população mundial. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a percepção de indivíduos com dor lombar crônica (DLC) com relação aos impactos da fisioterapia aquática (FA) em sua dor e na qualidade do sono (QdS).

MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, descritivo, proveniente de um estudo maior experimental, realizado com indivíduos com DLC, com idade entre 18 e 65 anos, de ambos os sexos. O estudo foi realizado em uma universidade pública de Santa Catarina. Como instrumento de coleta de dados foram utilizadas uma Escala Analógica Visual (EAV) e entrevistas abertas sobre as sessões de FA. Para interpretação dos dados, utilizou-se a análise de conteúdo.

RESULTADOS: Participaram do estudo 13 participantes (8 do sexo feminino e 5 do masculino), com média de idade de 47,4 anos. Os dados surgiram em categorias: (1) Limiar de dor na coluna lombar ao realizar a FA com a EAV; (2) Percepções imediatas após a FA, no que se refere a como os participantes se sentiram ao estarem no estudo; (3) Impressões da QdS, no que se refere a dormir bem à noite. As percepções de dor e o alívio dela ao participar do estudo foram relatados pelos participantes, assim como a importância de adotar um comportamento ativo ao efetuar exercícios aquáticos, do fator de pertencimento ao grupo e do entendimento do sono na saúde.

CONCLUSÃO: Na percepção dos indivíduos participantes do estudo, a FA auxiliou na melhora da dor e na QdS.

Palavras-chave

Dor lombar; Fisioterapia aquática; Sono

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Submitted date:
11/17/2025

Accepted date:
04/01/2026

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