We found no statistically significant differences in pain on the McGill Question naire or in physical disability ( very low level of evidence ) between balneotherapy and the other interventions .
Overall evidence is insufficient to show that balneotherapy is more effective than no treatment , that one type of bath is more effective than another or that one type of bath is more effective than mudpacks , exercise or relaxation therapy
BACKGROUND No cure for rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) is known at present , so treatment often focuses on management of symptoms such as pain , stiffness and mobility .
Treatment options include pharmacological interventions , physical therapy treatments and balneotherapy .
Balneotherapy is defined as bathing in natural mineral or thermal waters ( e.g. mineral baths , sulphur baths , Dead Sea baths ) , using mudpacks or doing both .
Despite its popularity , reported scientific evidence for the effectiveness or efficacy of balneotherapy is sparse .
This review , which evaluates the effects of balneotherapy in patients with RA , is an up date of a Cochrane review first published in 2003 and up date d in 2008 .
OBJECTIVES To perform a systematic review on the benefits and harms of balneotherapy in patients with RA in terms of pain , improvement , disability , tender joints , swollen joints and adverse events .
A randomized and controlled trial of hydrotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of hydrotherapy which combines elements of warm water immersion and exercise . It was predicted that hydrotherapy would result in a greater therapeutic benefit than either of these components separately . METHODS One hundred thirty-nine patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis were r and omly assigned to hydrotherapy , seated immersion , l and exercise , or progressive relaxation . Patients attended 30-minute sessions twice weekly for 4 weeks . Physical and psychological measures were completed before and after intervention , and at a 3-month followup . RESULTS All patients improved physically and emotionally , as assessed by the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 question naire . Belief that pain was controlled by chance happenings decreased , signifying improvement . In addition , hydrotherapy patients showed significantly greater improvement in joint tenderness and in knee range of movement ( women only ) . At followup , hydrotherapy patients maintained the improvement in emotional and psychological state . CONCLUSIONS Although all patients experienced some benefit , hydrotherapy produced the greatest improvements . This study , therefore , provides some justification for the continued use of hydrotherapy
We found no statistically significant differences in pain on the McGill Question naire or in physical disability ( very low level of evidence ) between balneotherapy and the other interventions .
Overall evidence is insufficient to show that balneotherapy is more effective than no treatment , that one type of bath is more effective than another or that one type of bath is more effective than mudpacks , exercise or relaxation therapy
BACKGROUND No cure for rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) is known at present , so treatment often focuses on management of symptoms such as pain , stiffness and mobility .
Treatment options include pharmacological interventions , physical therapy treatments and balneotherapy .
Balneotherapy is defined as bathing in natural mineral or thermal waters ( e.g. mineral baths , sulphur baths , Dead Sea baths ) , using mudpacks or doing both .
Despite its popularity , reported scientific evidence for the effectiveness or efficacy of balneotherapy is sparse .
This review , which evaluates the effects of balneotherapy in patients with RA , is an up date of a Cochrane review first published in 2003 and up date d in 2008 .
OBJECTIVES To perform a systematic review on the benefits and harms of balneotherapy in patients with RA in terms of pain , improvement , disability , tender joints , swollen joints and adverse events .