EFFICIENCY OF CONTEMPORARY BALNEOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS
EFFICIENCY OF CONTEMPORARY BALNEOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS

Summary/Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) can be defined as a chronic joint disease that causes pain, permanent disability and functional limitation. However, with the advances in contemporary medicine, conservative and/or surgical treatment options are increasing, which also raises the cost of treatment, considering that more and more people need therapy. Balneotherapy is commonly used in rehabilitation programs for the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis of various joint localizations (more commonly knee and hip joints). The aim of this report is to present the possibilities of treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of patients with osteoarthritis by means of Balneology. For this purpose, a comprehensive review of published articles in the available databases (Google Scholar, Pubmed, Science Direct, PEDro), which contain information on balneotherapy, in particular application of mineral waters and healing mud in patients with degenerative joint diseases, was performed. The search was conducted using keywords that are directly related to the topic of this article: mineral water balneotherapy, thermal waters, naturally aerated mineral waters, healing mud, osteoarthritis, knee joint, hip joint, small hand joints, pain, muscle weakness, muscle imbalance, stiffness, daily activity, functional limitation, rehabilitation. The review included articles containing information on randomized and non-randomized clinical trials, meta-analyses and scientific reviews regarding the use of balneotherapy in patients with osteoarthritis. Evidence was found that showed osteoarthritis to be highly disabling in large groups of people. On the other hand, evidence was found for the beneficial effects of mineral waters and healing mud in improving the long-term symptoms of osteoarthritis. Balneotherapy could have a credible effect in reducing pain, stiffness and functional impairment. Some therapies are effective in terms of reducing inflammatory activity and have a stimulating anti-inflammatory effect. Although this type of treatment is centuries old, it nowadays requires a scientifically sound explanation of the mechanisms by which the sangiogenesis effect is achieved and this is why research in this field continues. The application of balneotherapy (mineral waters and healing mud) is probably a therapeutic strategy with a very positive effect in patients with osteoarthritis. The negative goods of the complaint may be successfully reduced by balneotherapy and mud therapy. Prophylaxis and treatment with natural mineral waters and healing mud have the ability to reduce symptoms and improve functional activity in patients with osteoarthritis. Principally, these goods are enhanced by the chemical, physical and thermal characteristics of the balneological factors. However, research regarding their mechanisms of action is ongoing, allowing for a more precise definition of the pathways by which balneotherapeutic interventions work in patients with osteoarthritis.

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