Effect of balneotherapy on temporospatial gait characteristics of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Authors: Kiliçoğlu O (1) , Dönmez A (2) , Karagülle MZ (2) , Erdoğan N (2) , Akalan E (3) , Temelli Y (1)

Affiliations:

(1) Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical School (2) Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, İstanbul Medical Faculty, İstanbul University (3) Gait Analysis Laboratory, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical School

Source: Rheumatol Int. 2010 Apr;30(6):739-47

DOI: 10.1007/s00296-009-1054-9 Publication date: 2010 Apr E-Publication date: July 9, 2009 Availability: abstract Copyright: © Springer-Verlag 2009

Language: English Countries: Turkey Location: Gönen Spa Center Balikesir Correspondence address: Kiliçoğlu O : Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical School, Millet Cad. 118, Fatih, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. kilicoglu@istanbul.edu.tr

Keywords

Article abstract

Effects of balneotherapy on gait properties of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were investigated prospectively. A total of 30 patients with knee osteoarthritis received balneotherapy consisting of two daily thermomineral water baths for 2 weeks. Patients were evaluated using gait analysis and clinical scores, both within 2 weeks, before and after spa treatment. Patients were walking faster in their control analyses (0.81 +/- 0.21 to 0.89 +/- 0.19 m/s; P = 0.017), with a shorter mean stance time (63.0 +/- 3.3 to 61.8 +/- 2.5% stride; P = 0.007), an increased cadence (96 +/- 13.1 to 100 +/- 11.9 steps/min; P = 0.094) and stride length (996 +/- 174 to 1,058 +/- 142 mm; P = 0.017). Balneotherapy also resulted in a significant decrease in Lequesne knee osteoarthritis index (12.1 +/- 3.7 to 10.0 +/- 3.3 points; P = 0.003), VAS for pain (58 +/- 25 to 33 +/- 15; P = 0.0001), VAS for patients' (56 +/- 24 to 29 +/- 19; P < 0.001) and investigator's global assessment (55 +/- 20 to 26 +/- 15; P < 0.0001) and WOMAC score (2.1 +/- 0.7 to 1.6 +/- 0.8; P = 0.0004). Balneotherapy has positive effects on gait properties and clinical health quality parameters of patients with knee osteoarthritis in short-term evaluations.

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