Spa therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a large randomised multicentre trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine whether spa therapy, plus home exercises and usual medical treatment provides any benefit over exercises and usual treatment, in the management of knee osteoarthritis.

Methods

Large multicentre randomised prospective clinical trial of patients with knee osteoarthritis according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria, attending French spa resorts as outpatients between June 2006 and April 2007. Zelen randomisation was used so patients were ignorant of the other group and spa personnel were not told which patients were participating. The main endpoint criteria were patient self-assessed. All patients continued usual treatments and performed daily standardised home exercises. The spa therapy group also received 18 days of spa therapy (massages,

SUBMITTER: Forestier R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2927613 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature