[No difference in effectiveness measured between treatment in a thermal bath and in an exercise bath in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether hydrotherapy in a thermomineral institution is superior to the same hydrotherapy in an ordinary hospital exercise-bath.


METHODS
Controlled therapeutic trial.


METHODS
The thermomineral institution at Arcen and the exercise bath at the Maasland Hospital in Sittard, the Netherlands.


METHODS
46 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated in a by a skilled physiotherapist, according to a standardized exercise-scheme: 27 were treated in the thermomineral institution and 19 (control-group) in the hospital exercise-bath. Each patient received 12 treatments in 12 weeks. ENDPOINTS PARAMETERS: Morning stiffness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Ritchie index, amount of pain, answers to 11 questions concerning the activities of daily life, and psychosocial aspects of the disease. The various subjective and objective parameters were scored by the same physician.


RESULTS
Statistically significant improvement was observed in both groups concerning morning stiffness. Other subjective parameters improved, but did not reach significance. Objective parameters did not change significantly. Between-group differences were not found.


CONCLUSIONS
Hydrotherapy has a positive effect on some subjective but not on objective parameters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whether it is applied in a thermomineral institution or an ordinary hospital exercise bath.
Landewé
R B
RB
St. Maartens Gasthuis, afd. Reumatologie, Venlo.
Peeters
R
R
Verreussel
R L
RL
Masek
B A
BA
Goei The
H S
HS
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D001494:Baths; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters
D008900:Mineral Waters
Geen verschil in effectiviteit gemeten tussen behandeling in een thermaalbad en in een oefenbad bij patiënten met reumatoïde artritis.