Key Takeaway
Balneotherapy significantly reduces pain and improves function in osteoarthritis patients, with mineral-rich thermal waters showing the most consistent benefits across knee, hand, and generalized OA.
Summary
This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of balneotherapy for osteoarthritis (OA) across multiple joint sites. The authors searched major databases and included randomized controlled trials comparing balneotherapy (immersion in mineral or thermal waters) to control interventions in patients with OA.
The review found consistent evidence that balneotherapy reduces pain intensity and improves physical function in patients with knee OA, hand OA, and generalized OA. Mineral-rich waters — particularly sulfurous, sulfate, and bicarbonate waters — demonstrated the strongest therapeutic effects. Benefits were typically observed after 2–3 weeks of treatment and persisted for several months following completion of the balneotherapy course.
The authors noted that while the overall quality of evidence was moderate, balneotherapy appears to be a safe and well-tolerated adjunctive therapy for OA management. Limitations included heterogeneity in treatment protocols, water compositions, and outcome measures across studies. The review supports balneotherapy as a complementary approach alongside conventional OA treatments, particularly for patients seeking non-pharmacological pain relief options.