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An increasing body of evidence substantiating the effectiveness of balneotherapy has accumulated during recent decades. In the present study, 42 ambulatory patients (23 males and 19 females, mean age 59.5 years) with degenerative musculoskeletal disease were randomised into one of two groups-bathing in tap water or in mineral water at the same temperature-and subjected to 30-min balneotherapy sessions on 15 occasions. Study parameters comprised serum levels of sensitised C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma lipids, heat shock protein (HSP-60) and total antioxidant status (TAS). In both groups, CRP levels followed a decreasing tendency, which still persisted 3 months later. At 3 months after balneotherapy, serum cholesterol levels were still decreasing in patients who had used medicinal water, but exhibited a trend towards an increase in the control group. Triglyceride levels followed a decreasing trend in both patient groups. TAS showed a declining tendency in both groups. No changes of HSP-60 levels were observed in either group. Balneotherapy with the thermal water from Hajdúszoboszló spa had a more pronounced physiological effect compared to that seen in the control group treated with tap water in a 3 month period.

The therapeutic modalities available for the conservative management of chronic cervical and lumbar pain include underwater traction, the usefulness of which is not universally acknowledged. No reports have been published on clinical trials evaluating underwater traction. This study was intended to ascertain any beneficial impact of weightbath therapy on the clinical parameters and quality of life of patients with cervical/lumbar discopathy. The study population comprised 72 subjects. Two groups of 18 patients each received underwater traction therapy of the cervical or lumbar spine with add-on McKenzie exercises and iontophoresis. The remaining two groups, treated with exercises and iontophoresis, served as controls. VAS and SF36 scores, range of motion were monitored to appraise therapeutic efficacy in cervical discopathy, whereas these parameters were supplemented by the Oswestry index in lumbar discopathy. A MRI scan was done at baseline and after 3 months of follow-up. Underwater cervical or lumbar traction therapy for discopathy achieved significant improvement of all study parameters, which was still evident 3 months later. Among the controls, significant improvement of just a single parameter was seen in patients with lumbar, and of two parameters in those with cervical discopathy. Underwater traction therapy effectively mitigates pain, enhances joint flexibility, and improves the quality of life of patients with cervical or lumbar discopathy. The equipment required to administer weightbath therapy is simple to install and treatment technique is straightforward.

Background:Chronic low back pain established for more than 3 months is one of the most common problems in the world. The prevalence could reach the 33%.Objectives:To investigate the effects of underwater traction therapy on chronic low back pain.The primary objective was to prove the hypothesis that underwater traction therapy has favourable effect of LBP using the change in the clinical parameters. Our secondary objective was to evaluate whether it also leads to the improvement in the quality of life.Methods:A prospective, multicenter, comparative (intervention arm vs. control arm), randomized follow-up study.Participants aged between 18 and 85 years with more than 3 months low back pain and selected from outpatient clinics.The participants were randomized to three groups: underwater weight bath traction therapy, weight bath and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) medication and only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) medication.During the traction therapy ankle weights were used.The following parameters were measured before, right after, and nine weeks after the three-week therapy: level of low back pain in rest, level during activity tested using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS); specific questionnaire on back pain (Oswerty); questionnaire on quality of life (EuroQual-5D) and clinical parameters.Results:141 participants aged 57.67 (±13.04) years. All of the investigated parameters improved significantly (p<0.001) in the underwater weight bath traction therapy groups 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 except for the Oswestry Disability Index, which may also be the result of that group receiving pain-relieving drug therapy.Conclusion:Based on our results, underwater weight bath traction therapy, might have favourable impact on the clinical parameters and quality of life of patients suffering from chronic low back pain.References:[1] Alrwaily M, Almutiri M, Schneider M. Assessment of variability in traction interventions for patients with low back pain: a systematic review. Chiropr Man Therap. 2018 Sep 17;26:35. doi: 10.1186/s12998-018-0205-z. eCollection 2018. Review. PubMed PMID: 30237870; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6139896.[2] Kurutz M, Oroszváry L. Finite element analysis of weightbath hydrotraction treatment of degenerated lumbar spine segments in elastic phase. J Biomech. 2010 Feb 10;43(3):433-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.10.004. Epub 2009 Nov 1. PubMed PMID: 19883918.[3] Oláh M, Molnár L, Dobai J, Oláh C, Fehér J, Bender T. The effects of weightbath traction hydrotherapy as a component of complex physical therapy in disorders of the cervical and lumbar spine: a controlled pilot study with follow-up. Rheumatol Int. 2008 Jun;28(8):749-56. doi: 10.1007/s00296-008-0522-y. Epub 2008 Jan 12. PubMed PMID: 18193231.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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