Effects of complex spa therapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the spine receiving treatments in health resorts in south-eastern Poland.

Management of patients with degenerative diseases commonly comprises health-resort based treatment programs, including spa therapies, balneotherapy as well as terrain therapy making use of microclimate factors. The study was designed to assess short- and long-term effects of spa therapy administered to patients with osteoarthritis of the spine who received treatment in health resorts located in Poland. The study involved 102 patients receiving treatment in health resorts, a group of subjects receiving outpatient treatment (100 patients) and a group receiving no therapy (100 patients). The assessment survey included: Pain VAS and Laitinen, LISAT-9 and HAQ-20 questionnaires. The assessments were carried out three times: at the start of the therapy program, as well as one month and six months after the end of the program. Short-term effects showed statistically significant improvement in all the outcome measures in spa group and outpatient treatment group. The long-term effects showed statistically significant improvement in all the outcome measures in spa group only. In conclusion spa therapy reduces pain, improves functional efficiency and increases the level of life satisfaction in patients with osteoarthritis of the spine. Its effects are sustained for at least six months. Spa therapy is more effective long-term, than outpatient treatment.Trial registration: The study was registered at Clinical Trials: NCT03974308. First registration: 04/06/2019.

Physical therapy modalities in neurological disorders at developmental age - Assessment of the methodological value of research papers.

BACKGROUND: Physical therapy modalities are often applied in treatment of neurological conditions in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the methodological quality of research focusing on the application of physical therapy modalities in children and adolescents with neurological conditions. METHODS: Papers published between 2007 and 2018 were included in the review. 149 papers were analyzed and finally 26 studies investigating the use of physical therapy modalities in children and adolescents with neurological conditions were included in the review. Jadad scale (0-5) was used to assess the methodological value of the studies. RESULTS: The mean Jadad score was 1.46 (researcher 1) and 1.38 (researcher 2). A score of 0 was awarded to nine (r1) and eight papers (r2). A score of 5 points was awarded to three (r1) and two papers (r2). CONCLUSION: 1. The evidence showing the effectiveness of the use of physical therapy modalities is mainly of low quality. 2. The Jadad scale is a valuable tool to assess the quality of research, although it does not always reflect the real value in the case children participate in studies. 3. The analyzed studies show that physical therapy modalities are effective in the treatment of children and adolescents with neurological disorders.

The use of magnetic fields in treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Review of the literature.

Magnetic fields are commonly used in therapies designed for subjects with rheumatic diseases, yet the effects of magnetotherapy are not entirely clear in these disorders. This study is designed to examine the literature investigating applications of magnetotherapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The review focused on publications related to administering magnetotherapy in patients with RA. The databases Science Direct, SpringerLink, Medline, PubMed, and Polska Bibliografia Lekarska were searched for reports published since 2005. Despite the numerous reports showing an impact of magnetic field in subjects with RA, the effectiveness of magnetotherapy has not been explicitly confirmed. Given the above, further research appears to be necessary to clarify the impact of magnetic fields on biological systems, and the relationship between magnetic field intensity and the obtained results as well as their durability. The majority of clinical trials have failed to identify any undesirable outcomes or side effects of this physical therapeutic factor.