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Efficacy of balneological outpatient treatment (hydrotherapy and peloidotherapy) for the management of chronic low back pain: a retrospective study

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of balneological outpatient treatment including hydrotherapy and peloidotherapy on patients with chronic low back pain. In this retrospective observational study, the records (between 2008 and 2016) of patients who have undergone balneological outpatient treatment at the Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology were analyzed. The patients were examined and assessed by an experienced physician before and after the treatment. Outcome measures were the Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), patient’s and physician’s global assessment (VAS), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and the Waddell Disability Index. A total of 139 patients were included in the study. After the treatment, statistically significant improvement in all evaluated outcome measures was found. The detailed analysis showed age, the duration of treatment, and sex did not affect the effectiveness of the treatment. Balneological outpatient treatment may be an effective option for treatment of chronic low back pain patients with the advantages of being integrated into daily routine and not causing any days off by improving pain and increasing the quality of life. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Hidayet Yücesoy, Tuba Adıgüzel, Mine Karagülle & Müfit Zeki Karagülle

  2. Tıbbi Ekoloji ve Hidroklimatoloji A.B.D. İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi, Fatih, Capa, 34093, İstanbul, Turkey

    Hidayet Yücesoy, Tuba Adıgüzel, Mine Karagülle & Müfit Zeki Karagülle

  3. Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul Health Sciences University, Istanbul, Turkey

    İlker Geçmen

Authors
  1. Hidayet Yücesoy
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  2. İlker Geçmen
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  3. Tuba Adıgüzel
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  4. Mine Karagülle
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  5. Müfit Zeki Karagülle
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Correspondence to Hidayet Yücesoy.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Yücesoy, H., Geçmen, İ., Adıgüzel, T. et al. Efficacy of balneological outpatient treatment (hydrotherapy and peloidotherapy) for the management of chronic low back pain: a retrospective study. Int J Biometeorol 63, 351–357 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-018-01668-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-018-01668-9

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