Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Effect on cinebalneoterapia functional capacity
and pain perception in patients diagnosed with
knee osteoarthritis
Espejo L (1) , Cardero M (2) , Torres S (1) , Caro B (1) , Ibañez B (3)
(1) Departamento de Terapéutica Médico-Quirúrgica,
Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
(2) Centro Sociosanitario Puente Real, Badajoz, Spain
(3) El Raposo Spa, Badajoz, Spain
storres@unex.es
Introduction and Objectives
Among the essential elements consisting of balneotherapy is the use of mineral
water and its derivatives. The application of these in rheumatic diseases has been
widely used, constitute an unquestionable reality. However, there are many studies
evaluating the therapeutic effects derived from its application in knee osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Knowing the effects of aquatic exercises in thermal water on the perceived
pain in individuals diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.
2. Knowing the effects of aquatic exercises in thermal water on the functional
capacity of individuals diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis
Materials and Methods
Comparative study of experimental and prospective. The experimental group
(EG) consisted of 58 subjects who come to the Spa the Raposo (Badajoz) for treatment,
whose average age was (72.70 ± 5.90 years) while the control group (CG)
consisted of 60 subjects mean age 73.08 is ± 8.90 years diagnosed with osteoarthritis
and an age range between 65 and 80. GE was applied to a total of 11 daily sessions
led by a physiotherapist cinebalneoterapia specialist, with the duration of each
of 45 minutes. The CG did not receive any intervention continuing his daily drug
treatment. The sample was assessed before and after the intervention with respect to
the perception of pain by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and functional capacity by
measuring joint range (goniometry), muscle strength (dynamometry digital) and the
WOMAC scale, establishing the significance level to rule out the null hypothesis if
p < 0.05. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0 statistical software.
Results
The EG has 55.17% of bilateral gonarthrosis, compared to 27.58% shown in the
right knee and 17.24% on the left. Are obtained statistically significant changes
between pre-and post-test on joint range of flexion and extension of both the right
Balnea 393
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4
2012, núm. 6, 393-394