title: The effect of spa therapy in chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled, single-blind, follow-up study.
abstract: Effect of thermal water with high mineral content on clinical parameters and quality of life of patients with chronic low back pain was studied. In this randomized controlled, single-blind, follow-up study, 60 patients with chronic low back pain were randomized into two groups. The treatment group received balneotherapy with thermal-mineral water, and the control group bathed in tap water. Changes of the followings were evaluated: visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, range of motion for the lumbar spine, Oswestry index, EuroQol-5D and Short Form-36 questionnaires. In the treatment group, the mobility of the lumbar spine, the Oswestry index, the VAS scores and the EuroQoL-5D index improved significantly. SF-36 items improved significantly in the treated group compared with baseline except for two parameters. Our study demonstrated the beneficial effect of balneotherapy with thermal mineral versus tap water on clinical parameters, along with improvements in quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Józsefváros Health Care Services, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ildikó Katalin
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Tefner
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Németh
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lászlófi
authors.forename: Tímea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kis
authors.forename: Gyula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gyetvai
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bender
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001452:Balneology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008900:Mineral Waters