Among all the studies , the most relevant indexes used to measure effectiveness of spa therapy were improved including VAS , Lequesne , and WOMAC Score .
Conclusions The mud-pack therapy , balneotherapy , mud-bath therapy , and spa therapy have proved to be effective in the treatment and in the secondary prevention of knee osteoarthritis , by reducing pain , nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption , and functional limitation and improving quality of life of affected patients
Background Osteoarthritis ( OA ) is the most common musculoskeletal disease in the world .
OA is the result of an inflammatory and degenerative process affecting the entire joint .
Osteoarthritis , especially involving the knee , has a relevant socioeconomic impact in terms of drugs , hospital admissions , work absences , and temporary or permanent invalidity .
Therapy of knee osteoarthritis is based on pharmacological and nonpharmacological measures .
Effect of balneotherapy on temporospatial gait characteristics of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee
Effects of balneotherapy on gait properties of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were investigated prospect ively . A total of 30 patients with knee osteoarthritis received balneotherapy consisting of two daily thermomineral water baths for 2 weeks . Patients were evaluated using gait analysis and clinical scores , both within 2 weeks , before and after spa treatment . Patients were walking faster in their control analyses ( 0.81 ± 0.21 to 0.89 ± 0.19 m/s ; P = 0.017 ) , with a shorter mean stance time ( 63.0 ± 3.3 to 61.8 ± 2.5 % stride ; P = 0.007 ) , an increased cadence ( 96 ± 13.1 to 100 ± 11.9 steps/min ; P = 0.094 ) and stride length ( 996 ± 174 to 1,058 ± 142 mm ; P = 0.017 ) . Balneotherapy also result ed in a significant decrease in Lequesne knee osteoarthritis index ( 12.1 ± 3.7 to 10.0 ± 3.3 points ; P = 0.003 ) , VAS for pain ( 58 ± 25 to 33 ± 15 ; P = 0.0001 ) , VAS for patients ’ ( 56 ± 24 to 29 ± 19 ; P < 0.001 ) and investigator ’s global assessment ( 55 ± 20 to 26 ± 15 ; P < 0.0001 ) and WOMAC score ( 2.1 ± 0.7 to 1.6 ± 0.8 ; P = 0.0004 ) . Balneotherapy has positive effects on gait properties and clinical health quality parameters of patients with knee osteoarthritis in short-term evaluations
Among all the studies , the most relevant indexes used to measure effectiveness of spa therapy were improved including VAS , Lequesne , and WOMAC Score .
Conclusions The mud-pack therapy , balneotherapy , mud-bath therapy , and spa therapy have proved to be effective in the treatment and in the secondary prevention of knee osteoarthritis , by reducing pain , nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption , and functional limitation and improving quality of life of affected patients
Background Osteoarthritis ( OA ) is the most common musculoskeletal disease in the world .
OA is the result of an inflammatory and degenerative process affecting the entire joint .
Osteoarthritis , especially involving the knee , has a relevant socioeconomic impact in terms of drugs , hospital admissions , work absences , and temporary or permanent invalidity .
Therapy of knee osteoarthritis is based on pharmacological and nonpharmacological measures .