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 .
Evaluation of the effect of Lake Hévíz thermal mineral water in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled, single-blind, follow-up study.
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis is the most frequent joint disease and is a leading cause of pain and locomotor disability in elderly people . The treatment of osteoarthritis includes non-pharmacological , pharmacological , and surgical therapies . Silver level evidence has been found concerning balneotherapy in osteoarthritis . AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study was to evaluate how Lake Hévíz thermal mineral water therapy influences pain , knee function , and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis , compared to the control group . STUDY DESIGN r and omized , controlled , single-blind , follow-up study . SETTING Spa Hévíz and St. And rew Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases POPULATION This study included 77 out patients between 45 and 75 years of age with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee meeting the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria . METHODS Patients were r and omized into two groups . In group I ( n = 38 ) , subjects bathed in Lake Hévíz and in group II ( N.=39 ) , patients were treated in a pool full of tap water . Water temperature was 34 ° C for both groups . Participants underwent 30-minute therapy sessions , five times a week for three weeks . Outcome measures were pain visual analogue scale scores , active flexion degree , knee circumference , stair-climb time , Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index ( WOMAC ) , and EuroQoL Group 5-Dimension Self-Report Question naire score ( EQ-5D ) . Study parameters were recorded at baseline , immediately after treatment , and after 15 weeks . RESULTS Comparison of the two groups revealed a statistically significant difference in pain visual analogue scale scores ( P<0.01 ) , active flexion degree ( P<0.01 ) , physical function components of WOMAC ( P<0.05 ) , and EQ-5D scores ( P<0.05 ) even after 15 weeks . CONCLUSIONS Balneotherapy  improved pain , function as well as the quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis . CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT Balneotherapy is a potentially useful treatment modality for patients with knee osteoarthritis
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 .