Efficacy Of Balneotherapy For Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Meta-analysis

Abstract

Balneotherapy is an accepted therapeutic approach in Europe. However, its efficacy for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains controversial in North America. This is a meta-analysis of randomized (RCT ) and controlled clinical trials (CCT ), case-control and cohort studies of balneotherapy compared to control (no treatment) or active therapy (head to head studies). All the included studies (n =7) in this review were identified as RCTs. This meta-analysis examines different balneotherapy modalities: Radon-carbon dioxide baths, mud packs, hot sulphur baths, Dead Sea baths, Red Sea baths, and grey sand. Several types of balneotherapy, including radon-carbon dioxide baths, mud packs, hot sulphur baths, combination of hot sulphur baths and mud packs, Dead Sea baths, combination of Dead Sea baths and sulphur baths, and Grey sand and Red Sea baths compared to control were found to be beneficial for RA. These modalities were found to be especially beneficial for pain, grip strength, tender/swollen joints, patient and physician, and global function. These improvements ranged from 5-93% greater improvement relative to the control group. However, methodological considerations including the poor quality of trials impact the conclusions of this review.