Balneotherapy in the Treatment of Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Context . To date, the number of studies investigating the effects of balneotherapy (BT) on chronic shoulder pain is small. Objective . This study intended to investigate the effects of BT on pain, disability, and quality of life for patients with chronic shoulder pain. Design . The research team designed a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blinded study. Setting . The study took place in the Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology at the Bolu Izzet Baysal Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital (Bolu, Turkey). Participants . Participants were 60 patients with shoulder pain who were admitted to the outpatient clinic at the hospital between April 2016 and September 2016. Intervention . Participants were divided randomly into 2 groups: a control group receiving physical therapy (PT) only, the PT group, and an intervention group receiving PT plus BT, the BT group. All participants received 3 wk of treatment. Outcome Measures . The study measured pain, disability, and quality of life using a visual analogue scale (VAS), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) at baseline, immediately postintervention, and at 1 mo postintervention. Results . Statistically significant improvements were found on the VAS, SPADI, and NHP at both postintervention timepoints for both groups compared with baseline (P < .05). When the difference scores were compared between the groups, the BT group showed significantly greater improvements at both postintervention timepoints for the VAS and SPADI compared with the PT group (P < .05). For the NHP, the BT group showed significantly greater improvements compared with the PT group immediately postintervention for the pain and energy level subscales and for the total score (P < .05). At 1 mo postintervention, the BT group again showed significantly greater improvements on the NHP compared the PT group for the pain, physical activity, energy level, and sleep subscales and for the total score (P < .05). Conclusion . The results of the study suggest that BT can have positive effects on pain and disability. BT may be an alternative for patients with chronic shoulder pain.