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May spa therapy be a valid opportunity to treat hand osteoarthritis? A review of clinical trials and mechanisms of action

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Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and its current treatment includes non-pharmacological and pharmacological modalities. Spa therapy represents a popular treatment for many rheumatic diseases. The aim of this review was to summarize the currently available information on clinical effects and mechanisms of action of spa therapy in OA of the hand. We conducted a search of the literature to extract articles describing randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in hand OA published in the period 1952–2015. We identified three assessable articles reporting RCTs on spa therapy in hand OA. Data from these clinical trials support a beneficial effect of spa therapy on pain, function and quality of life in hand OA. Spa therapy seems to have a role in the treatment of hand OA. However, additional RCTs are necessary to clarify the mechanisms of action and the effects of the application of thermal treatments.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Authors' contribution

All authors were involved in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, and all authors approved the final version to be published.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Spa Centre of Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort, San Casciano Terme, Siena, Italy

    Nicola Angelo Fortunati & Gina Seri

  2. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Policlinico “Le Scotte”, Viale Bracci 1, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Antonella Fioravanti, Simone Cinelli & Sara Tenti

Authors
  1. Nicola Angelo Fortunati
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  2. Antonella Fioravanti
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  3. Gina Seri
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  4. Simone Cinelli
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  5. Sara Tenti
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Correspondence to Sara Tenti.

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Fortunati, N.A., Fioravanti, A., Seri, G. et al. May spa therapy be a valid opportunity to treat hand osteoarthritis? A review of clinical trials and mechanisms of action. Int J Biometeorol 60, 1–8 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1030-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1030-x

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