Key Takeaway
Three weeks of spa therapy provides significant and lasting improvements in knee osteoarthritis pain and function compared to usual care.
Summary
This large randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of spa therapy (balneotherapy) for knee osteoarthritis. 462 patients were randomized to either 3 weeks of spa therapy or usual care.
Spa therapy included daily mineral water baths, mud applications, and supervised pool exercises. At 6 months follow-up, the spa therapy group showed significantly greater improvements in pain, function, and quality of life compared to controls. Benefits persisted at 9-month follow-up.
Methods
- Large multicenter RCT (n=462)
- 3-week spa therapy program vs usual care
- Primary outcomes: pain and function at 6 months
- Secondary: quality of life, medication use
- Follow-up at 6 and 9 months
Key Results
- Significant pain reduction vs control at 6 months
- Improved physical function scores
- Benefits maintained at 9 months
- Reduced NSAID consumption
- Number needed to treat: 4 for clinically significant improvement
Figures
Figure 1
Limitations
- Unable to blind participants (knew treatment allocation)
- Cannot separate effects of individual spa components
- French spa setting may not generalize to all mineral waters