A study on the efficacy of treatment with mud packs and baths with Sillene mineral water (Chianciano Spa Italy) in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.
Mud-bath therapy plays a primary role in the treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis that has been recognised since antiquity. Numerous studies have demonstrated its clinical benefits and its effects on inflammatory mediators (interleukins), the immune system, cenesthesic factors (endorphins), and the diencephalic–pituitary–adrenal axis. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of mud-bath therapy with mineral water from the Sillene Spring at Italy’s Chianciano Spa in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients (n = 61) were divided into two groups. Group A underwent three cycles of mud-based spa therapy over a year’s time, whereas group B did not. Clinical conditions, visual analogue scale pain ratings, and Lequesne indexes of the two groups were compared. We also compared these same parameters in the patients of the two groups that were following the therapy with drugs and in the patients of the group A before and after spa treatment. The percentage of patients with no symptoms or mild symptoms was higher in group A than in group B. Within group A, this percentage was higher after treatment than before spa therapy. Even in the comparison between the patients of the two groups that were following the therapy with drug, the results was that in group A the percentage of patients with no symptoms or mild symptoms was higher than in group B. Statistical analyses based on various tests revealed that almost all these differences were highly significant. No adverse effects were observed in any of the patients in group A. In conclusion, the mud-bath therapy performed at Chianciano Spa with Sillene Spring water remarkably improved the clinical conditions of patients with knee arthritis and significantly reduces the frequency and severity of symptoms and the disability they cause.
Fraioli
Antonio
A
Dipartimento di Clinica e Terapia Medica, UOC Medicina Interna E, Terapia Medica e Medicina Termale, Scuola di Specializzazione in Idrologia Medica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, V.le del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy. antonio.fraioli@uniroma1.it
Serio
Angelo
A
Mennuni
Gioacchino
G
Ceccarelli
Fulvia
F
Petraccia
Luisa
L
Fontana
Mario
M
Grassi
Marcello
M
Valesini
Guido
G
D018771:Arthralgia / Q000628:therapy; D001494:Baths / Q000379:methods*; D006294:Health Resorts; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters; D009094:Mud Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D060985:Natural Springs; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008900:Mineral Waters
Scand J Rheumatol Suppl. 1987;65:85-9
3479839
Clin Ter. 2003 Jan-Feb;154(1):45-8
12854283
Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2005;25(2):77-94
16060398
Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2000;20(3-4):69-80
11314241
Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Feb 15;61(2):143-51
19177535
Joint Bone Spine. 2007 Jan;74(1):60-5
17223602
Rheumatol Int. 1995;15(2):65-8
7481482
J Investig Med. 1998 Apr;46(4):140-5
9635373
Clin Chim Acta. 1997 Dec 10;268(1-2):101-6
9495574
Rheumatol Int. 2006 Nov;27(1):19-27
16832639
Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2004 Nov-Dec;22(6):763-6
15638053
Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Apr;69(4):660-5
19734131
Lancet. 1974 Nov 9;2(7889):1127-31
4139420
Med Pregl. 2006;59 Suppl 1:47-50
17361596
Eur J Pain. 2004 Aug;8(4):283-91
15207508
J Prev Med Hyg. 2007 Mar;48(1):1-4
17506230
Int J Tissue React. 2002;24(2):57-64
12182234
Appl Nurs Res. 2000 Aug;13(3):157-8
10961000
Biomed Pharmacother. 1996;50(1):37
8672732
Joint Bone Spine. 2001 Dec;68(6):499-503
11808987
Rheumatol Int. 2002 Apr;21(6):218-21
12036207
J Clin Rheumatol. 2002 Aug;8(4):197-203
17041359
Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Aug;35(1 Suppl 1):17-23
16084229
Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Jun;26(6):890-4
17089219
Br J Rheumatol. 1997 Jan;36(1):77-81
9117181
Minerva Med. 2000 Oct;91(10):239-45
11236389
Geriatr Nurs. 2003 Mar-Apr;24(2):106-9
12714963
Arthritis Rheum. 1986 Aug;29(8):1039-49
3741515
Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 1997;17(4):149-53
9526176
Clin Chim Acta. 2001 Dec;314(1-2):209-14
11718697
Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Dec;26(12):2063-2071
17431728
Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 Oct;65(10):1363-7
16627539
Eur J Intern Med. 2004 Apr;15(2):93-96
15172023
J Rheumatol. 1991 Dec;18(12):1799-803
1795315
Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2004;24(2-3):39-47
15689050
J Rheumatol. 1997 Apr;24(4):779-81
9101517
Rheumatol Int. 2007 Apr;27(6):523-9
17106661