A pilot study to evaluate the effects of floatation spa treatment on patients with osteoarthritis

Author(s): Eckett, M., Paterson, C., Harkness, E.

Abstract: Objective: To conduct a preliminary investigation of the effects on floatation spa therapy on quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis to See if controlled trials are warranted. Design: Uncontrolled clinical trial. Setting: Private floatation spa therapy centre. Patients: Fourteen patients with chronic osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints, of whom four dropped out. Intervention: Six weekly sessions of floatation spa therapy. Outcome measures: SF36,AIMS2 and MYMOP quality-of-life questionnaires. Main results: All patients improved. Differences between baseline and discharge scores showed statistically significant improvement for MYMOP, but not AIMS2 or SF-36. Conclusions: Controlled trials of floatation spa therapy for patients with osteoarthritis are warranted.

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