The Effects of Immersion in 42℃ Thermal-mineral Water on Chronic Low-back Pain

Inclusion Criteria: * outpatients suffering from non-specific chronic low back pain standing for at least 12 weeks; only slightly reduced mobility (able to admit the treatments or visits on his own or without the help of another person); * pain intensity of low back pain during activity at least 35 on Visual Analog Scale (0-100 mm VAS); likely degenerative symptoms Exclusion Criteria: * severe neurological deficit associated with the lower back; * suspected vertebral compression of osteoporotic or other aetiology; * malignancy; * pain due to inflammatory spinal disease; * severe spondylolisthesis (grade 2 or above); * balneotherapy within 3 months prior the enrollement * steroid therapy within 1 month prior the enrollement * and general contraindications to balneotherapy: decompensated cardiopulmonary status (unstable hypertension, earlier tromboembolia, serious arteriosclerosis obliterans, serious varicositas, etc), unbalanced endocrinological and metabolic disease, fever condition, infectious disease, extensive inflammation/injury/absence of the skin, other severe interstitial, urogenital, and other diseases, malignancy, urine and stool incontinent, decompensated psychosis and neurosis, unconsciousness, pregnancy, postoperative status, alcoholic influence, and lack of compliance.