Comparison of a generic and a disease specific quality of life scale to assess a comprehensive spa therapy program for knee osteoarthritis

Recognition of Significant Multi-Element Geochemical Signatures of Lower Soil on Hainan Island, China: Implications for Thermal Mineral Water Exploration

As an important geothermal resource, thermal mineral water has high resource efficiency and thermal energy efficiency. The aim of this study was to delineate prospective areas of thermal mineral water based on potential thermal mineral water sites and faults. Linear regression was used to process the temperature of 22 known thermal mineral water sites as dependent variables, and 54 indices of the lower soil of multipurpose regional geochemical surveys as independent variables, in the area of intermediate-acid intrusive rocks and sediment degeneration rocks on Hainan Island. Published data were quoted from the National Multi-Purpose Regional Geochemical Survey (Hainan Province, China). According to the regressive modelling of 2197 lower soil samples, 547 potential thermal mineral water sites were delineated after considering 4 factors—geological background, regional structure, interval of dependent variable’s predictive temperature, and boundary of independent variable’s contents—which were compared against 22 known thermal mineral water sites to choose the 2197 lower soil samples, based on the choice of prospective sites of thermal mineral water on Hainan Island. The results showed that the proportion of A1-level sites that were >70 °C constituted 11% of all A1-level prospective sites, reflecting the superiority of east–west or north–east directional regional faults in controlling the distribution of thermal mineral water. This study shows the indications of the multipurpose regional geochemical survey with regards to thermal mineral water, which is one of the most important tourist resources of Hainan Island.

Efficacy of Balneotherapy and Mud Therapy in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Literature Review

Objectives To identify literature reporting on thermal mineral water and mud therapy effectiveness on pain, stiffness and knee function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Design Systematic evidence scan of MEDLINE and PubMed was performed to identify the randomized controlled trial studies published from 2004 to December 2018.

Study selection Papers reporting the effect of balneotherapy and mud therapy for treating knee OA, a duration of ≥2 weeks and in which Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were used as an outcome measure.

Data extraction Not RCT, Studies not in English.

Results A quantitative meta-analysis of ten studies (831 patients) was performed. Five clinical studies (407 patients) measured effectiveness of balneotherapy and there was significant difference between the groups in WOMAC pain score, WOMAC stiffness score and WOMAC function score, with the differences in favour of balneotherapy. Six clinical studies (500 patients) measured effectiveness of mud therapy and there was significant difference between the groups in WOMAC pain score, WOMAC stiffness score and WOMAC function score, with the differences in favour of mud therapy.

Conclusion This meta-analysis indicates that balneotherapy and mud therapy were clinically effective in relieving pain, stiffness, and improving function, as assessed by WOMAC score.

The effects of two different water exercise trainings on pain, functional status and balance in patients with knee osteoarthritis

METHODS

Eighty-nine female patients who had been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis were divided into three groups as two experimental and a control group. All groups have received the standard therapy (hotpack, ultrasound, TENS). Both experimental groups underwent water exercise program. While Group 1 performed lower extremity exercise training, Group 2 performed upper extremity exercises as well as trunk exercises in addition to the lower extremity exercises used in the Group 1. The third group was control group who did not receive water exercise treatment. The pain severity was measured with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Functional status was assessed by using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Balance was evaluated by using the single leg stance test.

RESULTS

The change in VAS scores from pre-to post-treatment was highest in Group 1 (p < 0.001). On the other hand, the change in WOMAC pain, stiffness and physical function values from pre-to post-treatment was highest in Group 2 (p < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

Water exercise training was found to be beneficial in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in both groups. Moreover, adding upper extremity and trunk exercises to the lower extremity exercises was found to be more effective for improving the function.

Efficacy of balneotherapy on pain, function and quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee

The aims of this study were to evaluate whether balneotherapy with mineral sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium water could determine substantial symptomatic improvement, and to detect any changes in the quality of life (QoL) of patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). This was a prospective randomized, single blind controlled trial. Sixty outpatients with primary bilateral knee OA, according to ACR criteria, were included in the study and randomized to one of two groups: group I (30 patients) was treated with a daily sulphate-bicarbonate-calcium mineral water bath; group II (30 patients), the control group, continued their regular outpatient care routine. At baseline, after 15 days and after 12 weeks, patients were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for spontaneous pain, Lequesne and Womac Index for gonarthrosis, SF-36, Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS) and symptomatic drugs consumption. We observed a significant improvement of all parameters at the end of the cycle of balneotherapy which persisted throughout the follow-up period, whereas in the control group no significant differences were noted. This symptomatic effect was confirmed by the significant reduction of symptomatic drugs consumption. The differences between the two groups were significant for all considered parameters already from the 15th day and persisted during follow-up. Tolerability of balneotherapy seemed to be good, with light and transitory side effects. Our results confirm that the beneficial effects of balneotherapy in patients with knee OA last over time, with positive effects on the painful symptomatology, a significant improvement on functional capacities and QoL. Balneotherapy can represent a useful backup to pharmacological treatment of knee OA or a valid alternative for patients who do not tolerate pharmacological treatments.

Thermal rehabilitation and osteoarticular diseases of the elderly

Elderly people with osteoarticular disease (OAD) traditionally visit spas for cycles of treatment comprising mud therapy and balneotherapy. We believe that the thermal environment is a suitable place for providing rehabilitative and preventive treatment both in association with traditional spa therapy and as the sole means of treatment. The aim of this paper is to describe the advantages and possible developments of these integrated approaches to OAD in the elderly.

Effects of balneotherapy on serum IL-1, PGE2 and LTB4 levels in fibromyalgia patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of balneotherapy in the treatment of Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) and to determine if balneotherapy influences serum levels of inflammation markers, IL-1, PGE2 and LTB4. 24 primary fibromyalgia female patients diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology criteria were included to the study. Their ages ranged between 33 and 55 years. FMS patients were randomly assigned in two groups as, group 1 (n = 12) and group 2 (n = 12). Group 1 received 20-min bathing, once in a day for five days per week. Patients participated in the study for 3 weeks (total of 15 sessions) in Denizli. Group 2 did not receive balneotherapy. FMS patients were evaluated by tenderness measurements (tender point count and algometry), Visual Analogue Scale, Beck's Depression Index, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. Ten healthy women recruited group three as the controls. Serum PGE2, LTB4 and IL1-alpha levels were measured in all three groups. The biochemical measurements and clinical assessments were performed before and at the end of general period of therapy. Statistically significant alterations in algometric score, Visual Analogue score, Beck's Depression Index and PGE2 levels (P < 0.001), numbers of tender points (P < 0.01) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score (P < 0.05) were found after the balneotherapy between group 1 and 2. Mean PGE2 level of FMS patients were higher compared to healthy control group (P < 0.0001) and decreased after the treatment period, only in group 1 (P < 0.05). As in the group 2 and 3, detectable IL-1 and LTB4 measurements were insufficient, statistical analysis was performed, only in group 1. After balneotherapy IL-1 and LTB4 significantly decreased in group 1 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, balneotherapy is an effective choice of treatment in patients with FMS relieving the clinical symptoms, and possibly influencing the inflammatory mediators.

Validation of two generic patient-reported outcome measures in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Prior to using a generic patient-reported outcome measure (PRO), the measure should be validated within the target population. The purpose of the current study was to validate two generic measures in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Patients with type 2 diabetes in Scotland and England completed two generic measures: EQ-5D and Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB). Two diabetes-specific measures were administered: ADS and DSC-R. Analyses assessed reliability and validity.

RESULTS

There were 130 participants (53 Scotland; 77 England; 64% male; mean age = 55.7 years). Responses on the EQ-5D and PGWB reflected moderate impairment consistent with previous diabetes samples: mean EQ-5D Index score, 0.75; EQ-5D VAS, 68.8; PGWB global score, 67.9. All scales of the PGWB demonstrated good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.77 to 0.97). The EQ-5D and PGWB demonstrated convergent validity through significant correlations with the ADS (r = 0.48 to 0.61), DSC-R scales (r = 0.33 to 0.81 except ophthalmology subscale), and Body Mass Index (r = 0.15 to 0.38). The EQ-5D and PGWB discriminated between groups of patients known to differ in diabetes-related characteristics (e.g., history of hypoglycemia).

CONCLUSION

Results support the use of the EQ-5D and PGWB among patients with type 2 diabetes, possibly in combination with condition-specific measures.

An Interdisciplinary Expert Consensus Statement on Assessment of Pain in Older Persons

This paper represents an expert-based consensus statement on pain assessment among older adults. It is intended to provide recommendations that will be useful for both researchers and clinicians. Contributors were identified based on literature prominence and with the aim of achieving a broad representation of disciplines. Recommendations are provided regarding the physical examination and the assessment of pain using self-report and observational methods (suitable for seniors with dementia). In addition, recommendations are provided regarding the assessment of the physical and emotional functioning of older adults experiencing pain. The literature underlying the consensus recommendations is reviewed. Multiple revisions led to final reviews of 2 complete drafts before consensus was reached.

The effect of the thermal mineral water of Nagybaracska on patients with knee joint osteoarthritis—a double blind study

To study the effect of thermal mineral water of Nagybaracska (Hungary) on patients with primary knee osteoarthritis in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 64 patients with nonsurgical knee joint osteoarthritis were randomly selected either into the thermal mineral water or into the tap water group in a non-spa resort village. The patients of both groups received 30-min sessions of bathing, 5 days a week for four consecutive weeks. The patients were evaluated by a blind observer immediately before and at the end of the trial using Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) indices and follow-up assessment 3 months later. Twenty-seven patients of the 32 patients who received thermal mineral water and 25 of the 32 of those treated with tap water completed the trial. The WOMAC activity, pain, and total scores improved significantly in the thermal mineral-water-treated group. The improvement remained also at the end of the 3-month follow-up. The WOMAC activity, pain, and total scores improved significantly also in the tap water group at the end of the treatment course, but no improvement was detected at the end of the 3-month follow-up period. The treatment with the thermal mineral water of Nagybaracska significantly improved activity, pain, and total WOMAC scores of patients with nonsurgical OA of the knee. Even after 3 months, significant improvement was observed compared to the scores before the treatment or to tap water treatment.

The effect of combined therapy (spa and physical therapy) on pain in various chronic diseases

OBJECTIVE

Spa therapy is commonly used in the treatment of daily chronic diseases practice, but its benefits are still the subjects of discussion. This study investigates possible effects of a combined spa and physical therapy program on pain and hemodynamic responses in various chronic diseases.

METHODS

The pain intensity and hemodynamic responses of 472 patients involved in a spa and physical therapy program were studied retrospectively. Assessment criteria were pain [Visual Analog Scale (VAS)] and hemodynamic responses (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate). Assessments took place before, immediately after treatment, and after completion of the spa program (before discharge).

RESULTS

The patients with ankle arthrosis, fibromyalgia and cervical disc herniation reported the highest VAS score before treatment program (P < 0.05). After the therapy program, VAS scores were seen to decrease compared to before treatment (P < 0.05). The patients with osteoarthritis of the hip (1.3+/-1.2) and soft tissue rheumatism (1.3+/-1.2) had the lowest VAS score before discharge compared to patients with other pathologies (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were detected between both sexes in terms of pain improvement (P > 0.05). On discharge, all hemodynamic responses decreased significantly compared to before and immediately after initiation of the therapy program (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

To decrease pain and high blood pressure without hemodynamic risk, a combined of spa and physical therapy program may help to decrease pain and improve hemodynamic response in patients with irreversible pathologies.