The Potential Role of Spa Therapy in Managing Frailty in Rheumatic Patients: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Frailty is not limited to the elderly, as patients with rheumatic diseases can also experience this condition. The present scoping review aimed to investigate the possibility of using the health resort setting as an alternative location for managing rheumatic patients with frailty. The research resulted in finding several in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, resulting in evidence supporting the effectiveness of spa treatments in reducing pain, improving function, and managing comorbidity in rheumatic diseases. Additionally, spa treatments were demonstrated to modulate the MAPK/ERK pathway and the NF-kB pathway’s activation and to reduce proinflammatory molecules’ secretion in rheumatic diseases, thus suggesting their potential effective role in the regulation of inflammaging in frailty. Moreover, the health resort setting may offer potential resources to reduce risk factors, such as drug consumption, inactivity, and disease severity, and may serve as a setting for developing prevention protocols for frailty. Future research should explore innovative approaches, such as exercise training and early diagnostics, for the overall management of frailty in rheumatic patients in the spa setting.

Effects of the Full-Body in-Bed Gym program on quality of life, pain and risk of sarcopenia in elderly sedentary individuals: preliminary positive results of a Padua prospective observational study

“…Our implementation of the Full-Body in Bed Gym program aligns with the broader understanding that exercise is not only beneficial for physical health but also plays a significant role in enhancing emotional and mental well-being among the elderly. 37 , 38 An active lifestyle has been found to have a profound impact on psychological aspects such as mood, anxiety, and depression. 39–41 These changes are often attributed to the endorphin and monoamine hypotheses, suggesting that exercise triggers the release of these neurochemicals, thereby alleviating negative emotional states.…”

Navigating Pain in Rheumatology: A Physiotherapy-Centric Review on Non-pharmacological Pain Management Strategies

“…Cold therapy is commonly applied topically on the sore area using ice packs, chemical packs, reusable gel packs, or ice massage. It has been proposed that heat therapies are more effective in treating non-inflammatory rheumatic disorders by improving joint flexibility and reducing fluid viscosity [ 33 ]. On the other hand, since cold therapies lessen inflammation and articular cartilage degradation, they are recommended for the treatment of active arthritis.…”

Relying on the French territorial offer of thermal spa therapies to build a care pathway for long COVID-19 patients

“…effects related to post-disease pulmonary problems [8,9] and for post-treatment rehabilitation [10][11][12]. Other studies remain more cautious about the benefits of spa treatments not combined with other treatments [13][14][15], particularly for the treatment of COVID-19 [16].…”

“…For example, respiratory treatments (based on inhalations or gargles, prescribed and supervised by specialized health personnel) stimulate the immune system and clean the respiratory system, preparing it to face a possible episode of COVID-19 [35]. Several studies [9][10][11]40] underline the interest of offering rehabilitation interventions based on the thermal spa therapy offer for COVID-19 patients suffering from musculoskeletal and neurological disabilities characteristic of long COVID-19 patients. Recently, the study conducted by Gvozdja ´kova ´et al [41] would tend to demonstrate that a high-altitude environment accompanied by spa rehabilitation can be recommended to accelerate the recovery of patients with long COVID-19 syndrome.…”