Contribution of Individual Spa Therapies in the Treatment of Chronic Pain

Abstract

The results indicate that, in addition to the individual therapies, other factors relating to spa therapy as a whole must contribute to overall treatment outcome. In addition, the results support the efficacy of exercise therapy for chronic back pain.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Spa Therapy on Pain and Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

“…Furthermore, exercise therapy is known to be a powerful instrument in the treatment of musculoskeletal chronic pain. 11 Ylinen et al 19 compared the effects of manual therapy and stretching exercise on neck pain and disability. Both stretching exercise and manual therapy considerably decreased neck pain and disability in females with non-specific neck pain.…”

“…These are (i) natural remedies such as mud and thermal water, (ii) additional therapies such as massages and electrotherapy, (iii) living in a resort environment, and (iv) having a respite from work. 11 The limitations of our study is that the follow-up period was relatively short, so we were unable to assess the effects of spa therapy in longer durations. In conclusion, combined use of thermal, mud, massage and exercise therapies, also known as spa therapy, results in a greater reduction in pain and improved functional capacity in the early period compared to exercise therapy alone in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain.…”

“…10 Recent studies have reported effects of spa therapy on chronic painful conditions including low back pain and rheumatoid arthritis. 11 To our knowledge, the only study in the literature to demonstrate the efficacy of spa therapy in patients with chronic neck pain is of Forestier et al 12 who have compared the effects of spa therapy and electromagnetic field therapy in patients with chronic neck pain. In that study, no difference has been shown between spa therapy and electromagnetic field therapy except for the 20% decreased pain during the pain assessment at the sixth month evaluation.…”

Natural Wool Fabrics in Physiotherapy

“…For example, primary circulatory disturbances result from peripheral vascular disease, which commonly affects the arteries supplying the leg and is mostly caused by atherosclerosis. Secondary changes occur in patients with limb paresis or paralysis following stroke, peripheral nervous system injury as well as in those suffering from muscle tension increase due to chronic pain (Moncur & Shields, 1987: Strass et al, 2002. Whether primary or secondary, the disorders result in reduced arterial and venous blood supply associated with lowered lymph flow dynamics.…”

“…Micromassage of reflex points and resulting cutaneous vascular responses stimulate microcirculation and β-endorphin secretion. Thereby, the sensation of pain becomes diminished (Bender et al, 2007;Grass, 1982;Strass et al, 2002;Wright & Slukak, 2001). It should be emphasized that the majority of locomotor system and visceral diseases, and especially chronic problems, cause certain areas of the skin (Head's zones) to develop microcirculation disturbances and hyper-or hypoesthesia through segmental spinal reflexes.…”