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 .
Short- and Long-Term Effects of Spa Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis
Fioravanti A , Iacoponi F , Bellisai B , Cantarini L , Galeazzi M : Short- and long-term effects of spa therapy in knee osteoarthritis . Objective : To assess both the short- and long-term effectiveness of spa therapy in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis in a prospect i ve , r and omized , single-blinded , controlled trial . Design : Eighty out patients were enrolled in this study ; 40 patients were treated with a combination of daily local mud packs and bicarbonate-sulfate mineral bath water from the spa center of Rapolano Terme ( Siena , Italy ) for 2 wks , and 40 patients continued regular , routine ambulatory care . Patients were assessed at baseline time ; after 2 wks ; after 3 , 6 , and 9 mos after the beginning of the study and were evaluated by Visual Analog Scale for spontaneous pain , Lequesne index , Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index for gonarthrosis , Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale-1 , and symptomatic drug consumption . Results : We observed a significant improvement of all evaluated parameters at the end of the cycle of spa therapy , which persisted throughout the whole of the follow-up period , whereas in the control group no significant differences were noted . This symptomatic effect was confirmed by the significant reduction of symptomatic drug consumption . Tolerability of spa therapy seemed to be good , with light and transitory side effects . Conclusions : The results from our study confirm that the beneficial effects of spa therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis lasts over time , with positive effects on the painful symptomatology and a significant improvement on functional capacities .  Spa therapy can represent a useful backup to pharmacologic treatment of knee osteoarthritis or a valid alternative for patients who do not tolerate pharmacologic treatments
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 .