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 .
Therapy With Mud Compresses for Knee Osteoarthritis: Comparison of Natural Mud Preparations With Mineral-Depleted Mud
Mud pack therapy is an alternative mode of treatment for rheumatic diseases . It is based on the application of heated mud packs to the entire body or to specific areas , such as over joints . The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with mud compresses at patients ’ homes for osteoarthritis of the knee . Fifty-eight patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were enrolled in a prospect i ve , double-blinded , controlled study . Forty patients were treated with natural mineral-rich mud compresses and 18 patients were treated with mineral-depleted mud compresses . Mud compresses were applied 5 times each week during 3 weeks for a total of 15 treatments . Patients were assessed at baseline , at completion of the 3-week treatment period , and twice after the conclusion of the treatment period — after 1 month and after 3 months . The main outcome measures were the Lequesne Index of severity of knee osteoarthritis , patient self- assessment of pain , and severity of knee pain on a visual analog scale . A reduction of 20 % or more in the pain scores was considered clinical ly significant . In the group treated with natural mud compresses , a significant reduction in knee pain was observed at all assessment s. Similarly , improvement in the Lequesne Index was seen at the end of therapy and a month after treatment . In the control group , given mineral-depleted mud compresses , no significant change in knee pain was seen at any assessment . Improvement in the Lequesne Index was seen 1 and 3 months after completion of the therapy , but not at the end of therapy . Seventy-two percent of the patients in the treatment group had an improvement of > 20 % in self- assessment of knee pain , compared with 33 % in the control group ( p = 0.005).The data suggest that treatment with mud compresses , but only in their natural form , temporarily relieves pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knees . We believe that treatment with mud compresses might augment conventional medical therapy in these patients
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 .