Analgetic effect of a sulfur-mud-bath an rheumatic muscle pain

Author(s): Aigner, U., Weinert, D., Limbach, B.

Journal/Book: Physikalische Medizin Rehabilitationsmedizin Kurortmedizin. 1992; 2/3: 92-97.

Abstract: Objective: Medical baths containing sulfur and huminic acids are used for treatment of rheumatic diseases. A recently published study by Saller et al. showed analgetic effects of Leukona-Sulfomoor-Bad in patients with osteoarthrosis, demonstrated by pressure algometry and visual analogue scale. The purpose of the present study is to examine more closely this effect.Subjects: A series of baths prepared with Leukona-Sulfomoor-Bad N (potassium polysulphide + huminic acid + mud powder) was applied to patients with non-articular (soft tissue) rheumatism. The analgetic effect was examined by means of a quantitative pressure threshold meter.Design: The study was based an the international conventions an drug research in medicine. We used a double blind design with random assignment to two treatment groups of 20 patients each. Admission of patients with muscle rheumatism was controlled by criteria of inclusion and exclusion. All patients were treated with standard physical therapy during their stay in private clinic. In addition, each group was given 8 baths of 37 °C for 20 minutes over a period of 3 weeks. The packaging for verum (Leukona-Sulfomoor-Bad N) and placebo (powder of insoluble huminic acids) baths was not distinguishable, likewise the baths could not be distinguished by smell or color.The minimum pressure to induce a pain Sensation was determined at 4 timepoints over the course of treatment an 16 anatomically defined trigger points and an one individual point of maximal pain. Moreover, the general subjective feeling was evaluated by a visual analogue scale (VAS).Results: After 2 and 3 weeks of treatment, the average pain threshold and VAS scores of the Leukona-Sulfomoor-Bad N group showed statistically significant improvement in comparison both with the initial values and with the placebo group. In contrast to this finding, the combination of standard physical therapy with placebo baths did not bring about a significant analgetic effect.Conclusions: Leukona-Sulfomoor-Bad N is a more effective therapeutic measure in the treatment of soft tissue rheumatism, promising better relief from muscular pain, than standard physical therapy.

Keyword(s): Balneotherapie

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