Efficacy of Balneotherapy and Mud Therapy in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Objectives To identify literature reporting on thermal mineral water and mud therapy effectiveness on pain, stiffness and knee function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Design Systematic evidence scan of MEDLINE and PubMed was performed to identify the randomized controlled trial studies published from 2004 to December 2018.

Study selection Papers reporting the effect of balneotherapy and mud therapy for treating knee OA, a duration of ≥2 weeks and in which Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were used as an outcome measure.

Data extraction Not RCT, Studies not in English.

Results A quantitative meta-analysis of ten studies (831 patients) was performed. Five clinical studies (407 patients) measured effectiveness of balneotherapy and there was significant difference between the groups in WOMAC pain score, WOMAC stiffness score and WOMAC function score, with the differences in favour of balneotherapy. Six clinical studies (500 patients) measured effectiveness of mud therapy and there was significant difference between the groups in WOMAC pain score, WOMAC stiffness score and WOMAC function score, with the differences in favour of mud therapy.

Conclusion This meta-analysis indicates that balneotherapy and mud therapy were clinically effective in relieving pain, stiffness, and improving function, as assessed by WOMAC score.

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Ziel Systematische Literaturrecherche zur Effizienz von Balneotherapie und Peloidtherapie hinsichtlich Schmerzen, Steifheit und Kniefunktion bei Patienten mit Kniearthrose.

Design Systematische Datenabfrage in MEDLINE und PubMed zur Identifizierung randomisierter kontrollierter Studien, die zwischen 2004 und Dezember 2018 publiziert wurden.

Einschlusskriterien Artikel über die Auswirkungen von Balneotherapie und Peloidtherapie auf die Behandlung von Kniearthrose bei einer Behandlungsdauer von > 2 Wochen unter Verwendung der WOMAC-Arthroseindizes der Universitäten Western Ontario und McMaster.

Ausschlusskriterien Keine kontrollierten klinischen Studien, Studien nicht in englischer Sprache vorliegend.

Ergebnis Es wurde eine Metaanalyse von zehn Studien (831 Patienten) durchgeführt. In fünf klinischen Studien (407 Patienten) wurde die Wirksamkeit der Balneotherapie beurteilt. Es fand sich ein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den Gruppen hinsichtlich der WOMAC-Scores zu Schmerzen, Steifheit und Funktion zugunsten der Balneotherapie. In sechs klinischen Studien (500 Patienten) wurde die Wirksamkeit der Peloidtherapie beurteilt. Hier zeigte sich ein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den Gruppen hinsichtlich der WOMAC-Scores zu Schmerzen, Steifheit und Funktion zugunsten der Peloidtherapie.

Schlussfolgerungen Diese Metaanalyse zeigt die klinische Wirksamkeit von Balneotherapie und Peloidtherapie bei der Reduktion von Schmerzen und Steifheit und der Verbesserung der Funktion, beurteilt anhand der WOMAC-Scores.

Key words

knee osteoarthritis - systematic evidence scan - balneotherapy - mud therapy - Western Ontario - McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index

Schlüsselwörter

Kniearthrose - systematische Datenabfrage - Balneotherapie - Peloidtherapie - Arthroseindex der Universitäten Western Ontario und MacMaster

Publication History

Article published online:
22 October 2020

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