title: Balneotherapy in elderly patients: effect on pain from degenerative knee and spine conditions and on quality of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Balneotherapy is an established treatment modality for musculoskeletal disease, but few studies have examined the efficacy of spa therapy in elderly patients with degenerative spine and joint diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of balneotherapy on chronic musculoskeletal pain, functional capacity, and quality of life in elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or with chronic low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 81 patients in the study group underwent a 1 day course of 30 minute daily baths in mineral water. Changes were evaluated in the following parameters: pain intensity, functional capacity, quality of life, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or analgesic drugs, subjective disease severity perceived by the patients, investigator-rated disease severity, and severity of pain perceived by the patients. We analyzed the results of 76 subjects as 5 did not complete the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to baseline, all monitored parameters were significantly improved by balneotherapy in both investigated groups. Moreover, the favorable effect was prolonged for 3 months after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that balneotherapy is an effective treatment modality in elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or with chronic low back pain, and its benefits last for at least 3 months after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Kenézy Gyula County Hospital, Debrecen, Hungary. gaalja@freemail.hu
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaál
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szekanecz
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurkó
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ficzere
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bodolay
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bender
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001452:Balneology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008900:Mineral Waters