This summary of a Cochrane review presents what we know from research about the effect of Balneotherapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
The review shows that in people with RA:
- Radon-carbon dioxin baths compared with carbon dioxin baths may not lead to any difference in pain on the short-term, only possibly at 6 months.
- Tap water baths compared to land exercises or relaxation may not lead to any difference in pain.
- Mineral baths compared with taking the drug Cyclosporine A may lead to a significant difference in pain at 8 weeks, but may also lead to some side effects .
- Sulfur baths or Dead Sea baths compared to no treatment may not lead to any difference in the way people feel overall.
Swollen or tender joints, inflammation (acute phase reactants), the doctor's assessment of overall well-being, x-rays of joints and other laboratory tests were not measured in these studies.
Not enough data was provide to tell whether mineral baths would improve how people feel overall compared with taking the drug Cyclosporine A.
Not enough data was provided to tell whether physical disability would improve with various forms of balneotherapy.
What is RA and what is Balneotherapy?
In rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system, which normally fights infection, attacks the lining of your joints. This makes your joints swollen, stiff and painful. The small joints of your hands and feet are usually affected first. There is no cure for RA at present, so the treatments aim to relieve pain and stiffness and improve your ability to move.
Balneotherapy (also called mineral baths or spa-therapy) is an ancient and popular therapy. It involves spending time in an indoor pool filled with mineral water at temperature of between 31 to 36 degrees Celsius (88 to 97 degrees Farenheit). Different types of mineral water can be used in this therapy, for example, radon or carbon dioxin.