Abstract

Introduction Because there are mineral-rich medicinal waters in natural thermal spas. Their mechanical, thermal and psychotropic properties should be harnessed and the transmineralisation resulting from absorption through the skin of the ions they contain is fundamental. The main objective of this study was to determine whether the possible improvement in quality of life following balneotherapy can be maintained for at least two months after undergoing various thermal treatments. Methods A quasi-experimental before-after study conducted in the months of April to June 2015 in a natural thermal spa in the province of Zaragoza (Aragon, Spain) with participants who benefited from the IMSERSO Social Balneotherapy programme and answered the quality of life SF12v2 questionnaire upon arrival and after two months. Results There were 221 people included in the study, 138 (62.4%) women, with a median (interquartile range - IR) of 73.6 (8) years, 11.0 (1) days stay at the spa and each patient had 4 (3) morbidities. The median number (IR) of thermal treatments was 4 (3); the most frequent was the hydroponic treatment, active pool and bubble-system spa, finding statistically significant improvements in the thermal treatment of the steam room and/or mud baths. The primary clinical outcome was obtained in an emotional role, where improvement was moderate being mild in the mental health, general health and the mental summary component dimensions. Conclusions It was concluded that balneotherapy has a multi-factorial impact on health as improvements were found in the eight dimensions and the two summary components.

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