Does local immersion in thermo-neutral bath influence surface EMG measurements? Results of an experimental trial

The effects of immersion in 42℃ radon, natrium, calcium, bicarbonate content thermal-mineral water on chronic low back pain. Controlled, follow-up study

In our minimized follow-up trial with 137 participants with chronic low back pain, one group of participants received regular outpatient care, and the other group received balneotherapy by immersion in 42℃ thermal-mineral water in addition to regular outpatient care on 15 occasions for 3 weeks. Pain on movement and at rest on the 0-100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry index, the number of participants evaluating the symptoms clinically acceptable (Patient Acceptable Symptom State, PASS) and the EuroQol-5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L) quality of life questionnaire were assessed at basal time (at week 0) and after balneotherapy (at weeks 3 and 12). The VAS pain scores, the Oswestry index, the EQ-5D-5L index and the EQ-VAS significantly improved in the balneotherapy group after treatment at week 3 (p < 0.001) and week 12 (p < 0.001) compared to baseline, with a significant between group difference at week 3 (p < 0.001) and week 12 (p < 0.001). The pain VAS score on movement was 66.82 ± 11.48, 26.69 ± 21.49, and 20.09 ± 23.29 in the balneotherapy group, and 63.67 ± 14.77, 67.35 ± 15.44, and 70.23 ± 18.26 in the control group at the consecutive visits. The PASS increased in both groups at week 3 and week 12 compared to the baseline, with a significant between-group difference at week 3 and week 12 for the balneotherapy group. Our results suggest the therapeutic efficacy of immersion in 42℃ thermal mineral water on chronic low back pain.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05342051.

The effects of the calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate content in thermal mineral water on chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled follow-up study

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of balneotherapy on chronic low back pain. This is a minimized, follow-up study evaluated according to the analysis of intention to treat. The subjects included in the study were 105 patients suffering from chronic low back pain. The control group (n = 53) received the traditional musculoskeletal pain killer treatment, while the target group (n = 52) attended thermal mineral water treatment for 3 weeks for 15 occasions on top of the usual musculoskeletal pain killer treatment. The following parameters were measured before, right after, and 9 weeks after the 3-week therapy: the level of low back pain in rest and the level during activity are tested using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS); specific questionnaire on the back pain (Oswestry); and a questionnaire on quality of life (EuroQual-5D). All of the investigated parameters improved significantly (p < 0.001) in the target group by the end of the treatment compared to the base period, and this improvement was persistent during the follow-up period. There were no significant changes in the measured parameters in the control group. Based on our results, balneotherapy might have favorable impact on the clinical parameters and quality of life of patients suffering from chronic low back pain.

The effect of balneotherapy on chronic shoulder pain. A randomized, controlled, single-blind follow-up trial. A pilot study

The effects of balneotherapy on chronic shoulder pain were studied. In this single-blind, randomized, follow-up study involving 46 patients with chronic shoulder pain, one group of patients received physiotherapy--exercise and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation--and the other group received balneotherapy in addition to physiotherapy for 4 weeks on 15 occasions. The following parameters were recorded before treatment (at week 0) and after treatment (at weeks 4, 7, and 13): Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) and EuroQuol-5D (EQ-5D) quality of life questionnaires, pain at rest and on movement on the visual analog scale (VAS), and active and passive range of motion. The SPADI pain, function, and total scores and the VAS scores at rest and on movement significantly improved in both groups after treatments. A greater improvement was observed in the balneotherapy group compared to the control group; regarding some parameters (VAS score on movement and SPADI function score at visit 2; VAS score at rest at visits 3 and 4), the difference between the groups was significant. The improvement of SF-36 and EQ-5D quality of life scores and the active range of motion was more pronounced in the balneotherapy group, the difference between the groups was not significant, except for EQ-5D at visit 2. Improvement of passive range of motion was not significant. Balneotherapy may have a beneficial effect on the clinical parameters and quality of life of patients with chronic shoulder pain. The number of patients should be increased.