https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2021.1394

Efficacy of mud plus bath therapy as compared to bath therapy in osteoarthritis of hands and knees: a pilot single-blinded randomized controlled trial

Vol. 73 No. 3 (2021)
Submitted: 9 January 2021
Accepted: 30 September 2021
Published: 22 November 2021
Knee osteoarthritis, hand osteoarthritis, mud therapy, bath therapy.
Abstract Views: 5356
PDF: 864
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Authors

C. Benini
camilla.benini@yahoo.it
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8082-5023
Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
G. Rubino
Terme di Pejo, Peio Fonti, Trento, Italy.
G. Paolazzi
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5623-7953
Rheumatology Complex Hospital Unit, S. Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy.
G. Adami
Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
C. Caimmi
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0524-8959
Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
O. Viapiana
Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
D. Gatti
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7471-3076
Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
M. Rossini
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9692-2293
Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.

The primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of mud plus bath therapy in comparison to bath therapy alone in hand and knee osteoarthritis (HOA and KOA). We conducted a single-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT). Patients were randomly assigned to either mud plus bath therapy (group 1) or balneotherapy (group 2). The primary outcome was a change in AUSCAN questionnaire for HOA and in WOMAC for KOA at month 12. Evaluations were performed at baseline (B), immediately after the interventions (week 2, W2) and after 3 (M3), 6 (M6), 9 (M9) and 12 (M12) months. 37 patients with KOA and 52 with HOA were randomized in the study. In HOA patients, AUSCAN pain improved more in group 1 compared to group 2 at M3, M6 and M12 (p<0.001, p=0.001 and p=0.038, respectively). AUSCAN stiffness improved more in group 1 at M3 (p=0.001). AUSCAN function improved more at M3, M6, M9 and M12 (p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.014 and p=0.018, respectively). Regarding, KOA, WOMAC function decreased more prominently in group 1 compared to group 2 at M9 (p=0.007). The absolute values of WOMAC function at M6 and M9 were lower in group 1 compared to group 2 (p=0.029 and p=0.001, respectively). WOMAC pain absolute values were lower in group 1 at W2 (p=0.044) and at M9 (p=0.08). We conducted a RCT on the efficacy of mud plus balneotherapy over balneotherapy alone in HOA and KOA. We found that mud plus balneotherapy was more effective than balneotherapy alone on clinical outcomes of HOA. Differences in clinical outcomes of KOA were not significant, yet numerically higher.

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How to Cite

Benini, C., Rubino, G., Paolazzi, G., Adami, G., Caimmi, C., Viapiana, O., … Rossini, M. (2021). Efficacy of mud plus bath therapy as compared to bath therapy in osteoarthritis of hands and knees: a pilot single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Reumatismo, 73(3). https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2021.1394

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