Comparative efficacy of mineral water and mud therapy vs standard rehabilitative interventions: a systematic review of osteoarthritis studies from 2000.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, and despite extensive research, no disease-modifying drugs are currently available. Various rehabilitation approaches, natural healing factors, and curative agents are commonly used for osteoarthritis management. A key question remains whether treatments involving mud and mineral water therapies in resort-based sanatoriums are more effective than conventional rehabilitation procedures. To address this, we analyzed clinical trials since 2000 that compared the effects of balneotherapy and peloid therapy, either alone or in combination, with standard rehabilitative thermal interventions in managing peripheral joint osteoarthritis. A systematic review of 40 controlled trials from PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, and Web of Science evaluated the effects of these therapies on osteoarthritis patients. The inclusion criteria were guided by the PICO model, focusing on various mineral water and mud therapies versus routine rehabilitation. All assessed outcomes were included in the intergroup analysis. Most studies focused on knee osteoarthritis, with 62.7% of participants being female. Significant intergroup differences were found in improvements in pain, stiffness, and physical performance, with better long-term outcomes observed in patients receiving mineral water or mud therapy compared to controls. In conclusion, while standard rehabilitation thermal procedures have a proven positive effect on reducing osteoarthritis symptoms and improving quality of life, sanatorium treatments with mud and mineral water therapies offer additional advantages, especially in terms of long-lasting benefits.