Management of patients with degenerative diseases commonly comprises health-resort based treatment programs, including spa
therapies,
balneotherapy as well as terrain
therapy making use of microclimate factors. The study was designed to assess short- and long-term effects of spa
therapy administered to patients with
osteoarthritis of the spine who received treatment in health resorts located in Poland. The study involved 102 patients receiving treatment in health resorts, a group of subjects receiving outpatient treatment (100 patients) and a group receiving no
therapy (100 patients). The assessment survey included:
Pain VAS and Laitinen, LISAT-9 and HAQ-20 questionnaires. The assessments were carried out three times: at the start of the
therapy program, as well as one month and six months after the end of the program. Short-term effects showed statistically significant improvement in all the outcome measures in spa group and outpatient treatment group. The long-term effects showed statistically significant improvement in all the outcome measures in spa group only. In conclusion spa
therapy reduces
pain, improves functional efficiency and increases the level of life satisfaction in patients with
osteoarthritis of the spine. Its effects are sustained for at least six months. Spa
therapy is more effective long-term, than outpatient treatment.Trial registration: The study was registered at Clinical Trials: NCT03974308. First registration: 04/06/2019.