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Is cold or heat therapy more effective for arthritis? The answer depends on the cause of joint pain.
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In some cases, this is not recommended, but in general, bathing with medicinal waters and spa treatments can have a beneficial effect.
Many people have their joints sensitive to changes in the weather, whether it’s heat, cold fronts, or even the humid winter period. Joint pain that gets worse over and over again is one of the most characteristic symptoms of milder and more serious musculoskeletal problems.
In general, it can be said that in case of motor diseases, bathing in medicinal waters and various spa treatments can have a beneficial effect. Practically speaking, among the indications for all types of therapeutic waters, motor diseases are listed first, so they can also be suitable for treating the pain associated with them.
Warm water has a natural pain-relieving effect, but some ingredients can enhance this beneficial effect even further. For example, radon therapeutic water is particularly known for its powerful pain-relieving properties. In some countries, such as Germany, France, Russia and Japan, artificial radon baths are also used to treat musculoskeletal disorders, mainly due to the pain-relieving effect of radon. (You can read about home baths with radon water here.)
Important advice for those suffering from joint diseases is not to be content with sitting in medicinal water for a long time. It’s a good idea to use the time you spend in the pool to mobilize and exercise your joints, since the pain-relieving, buoyant, therapeutic effect of the water makes it easier to move around in the pool water.
In order to relieve pain caused by joint diseases, in addition to bathing with medicinal waters, mud therapy, physiotherapy, weight baths and various electrotherapy procedures can also be effective. The specialist always decides which one can be used and for whom.
When can a spa bath with hot water be harmful?
It is important to know that when the joints are inflamed, bathing with warm water will do more harm than good. This is especially true in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, where a period of rest can be followed by a sudden exacerbation. This type of active inflammation is indicated by increased pain, local redness, swelling, and a warm or throbbing sensation in the affected area. In such cases, unfortunately, you have to wait for the inflammation to subside, which often requires taking medication.
Illustration: Spa bath in Cserkeszőlő
