European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 15, Issue 2 , Pages 93-96 , April 2004

The effect of balneotherapy on osteoarthritis. Is an intermittent regimen effective?

  • Moshe Tishler

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Medicine 'B', Asaf-Harofe Medical Center, Zerifin, 70300 Israel. Tel.: +972-8-9779262; fax: +972-8-9779266.
    • Department of Medicine 'B', Asaf-Harofe Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
    • Rheumatology Service, Asaf-Harofe Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
    • Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel
    • ,
  • Oskar Rosenberg

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine 'B', Asaf-Harofe Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
    • ,
  • Ofer Levy

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine 'B', Asaf-Harofe Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
    • Rheumatology Service, Asaf-Harofe Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
    • Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel
    • ,
  • Iris Elias

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine 'B', Asaf-Harofe Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
    • ,
  • Mirit Amit-Vazina

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine 'B', Asaf-Harofe Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
    • Rheumatology Service, Asaf-Harofe Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
    • Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel

Received 11 August 2003 ,Revised 9 December 2003 ,Accepted 18 December 2003.

References 

  1. Helliwell PS. An appraisal of medicinal spa therapy for rheumatological disorders. J. R. Soc. Health. 1989;198:3–7
  2. Babylonian Talmud-Sanhedrin, 108, 71.
  3. Sukenik S, Neumann L, Buskila D, Kleiner-Baumgarten A, Zimlichman S, Horowitz J. Dead Sea bath salts for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Clin. Exp. Rheumatol. 1990;8:353–357
  4. Elkayam O, Wigler I, Tishler M, Rosenblum I, Caspi D, Segal R. Effect of spa therapy in Tiberias on patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. J. Rheumatol. 1991;18:1799–1803
  5. Buskila D, Abu-Shakra M, Neumann L, Odes L, Shneider E, Flusser D, et al.  Balneotherapy for fibromyalgia at the Dead Sea. Rheumatol. Int. 2001;20:105–108
  6. Kovacs L, Bender T. The therapeutic effect of Czerkeszolo thermal water in osteoarthritis of the knees. Rheumatol. Int. 2002;21:218–221
  7. Forestier R. Magnitude and duration of the effects of two spa therapy courses on knee and hip osteoarthritis: an open prospectuive study in 51 consecutive patients. Joint Bone Spine. 2000;67:296–304
  8. Hochberg MC, Altman RD, Brandt KD, Clark BM, Dieppe PA, Graiffin MR, et al.  Guidelines for the medical management of osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1995;38:1541–1546
  9. Bellamy N. Pain assessment in osteoarthritis—experience with the WOMAC osteoarthritis index. Semin. Arthritis Rheum. 1989;18(Suppl. 2):14–17
  10. Bellamy N. Outcome measurement in osteoarthritis clinical trials. J. Rheumatol. 1995;22(Suppl. 43):49–51
  11. O'Hare JP, Heywood A, Summerhayes C, Lunn G, Evans JM, Walters G, et al.  Observation on the effects of immersion in Bath spa water. Br. Med. J. 1985;211:1747–1751
  12. Sukenik S, Flusser D, Codish S, Abu-Shakra M. Balneotherapy at the Dead Sea area for knee osteoarthritis. Isr. Med. J. 1999;1:83–85
  13. Wigler I, Elkayam O, Paran D, Yaron M. Spa therapy for gonarthrosis: a prospective study. Rheumatol. Int. 1995;15:65–68
  14. Evcik D, Kizilayl B, Gokcen E. The effect of balneotherapy on fibromyalgia patients. Rheumatol. Int. 2002;22:56–59
  15. Neumann L, Sukenik S, Bolotin A, Abu-Shakra M, Amir M, Flusser D, et al.  The effect of balneotherapy at the Dead Sea on the quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Clin. Rheumatol. 2001;20:15–19

PII: S0953-6205(04)00005-6

doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2004.01.002

European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 15, Issue 2 , Pages 93-96 , April 2004

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