The Effect of Balneotherapy on Knee Osteoarthritis

Overview

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease characterized by the breakdown and repair processes of the cartilage structure in synovial joints. Balneotherapy is one of the most commonly applied treatment methods in patients with OA. It is used to reduce pain and stiffness, improve joint mobility and quality of life, and prevent disease progression. Hyperthermia caused by balneotherapy activates the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. After heat stress, HSp levels in the blood increase, triggering the HSp-cytokine-HPA-cortisol anti-inflammatory feedback mechanism, resulting in an anti-inflammatory effect and neuroendocrine immune regulation. In various pathologies associated with low-grade inflammation-especially rheumatic diseases-balneotherapy and mud therapy have been reported to decrease serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β. Serum COMP levels are elevated in OA patients. There is evidence that measuring COMP levels could serve as a prognostic marker for the development of OA in patients with chronic knee pain. It is evaluated not only as a cartilage marker but also as an indicator of synovial inflammation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the response to inflammation and stress in patients with knee OA by examining the levels of CRP, IL-1 beta, COMP, and HSp following balneotherapy treatment. Additionally, changes in patients' quality of life and functional status after balneotherapy will also be evaluated.Fifty patients with primary osteoarthritis who meet the inclusion criteria and are receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation clinic will be included in the study. It is planned to include 30 patients in the treatment group and 20 patients in the control group. Pain will be assessed using VAS, physical function and stiffness using WOMAC, and quality of life using the SF-36 scale. To determine the serum levels of COMP, IL-1 beta, CRP, and HSp70, blood samples will be collected under standard conditions from patients in a fasting state between 8:00-9:00 AM. Biochemical markers will be evaluated using ELISA kits. For balneotherapy, patients will be treated in a thermal pool for 15-20 minutes daily, with full-body immersion, for a total of 15 days.

In various pathologies associated with low-grade inflammation-especially rheumatic diseases-balneotherapy and mud therapy have been reported to decrease serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β. COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein) contributes to the stabilization of the collagen network by binding to collagen IX. Serum COMP levels are elevated in OA patients. There is evidence that measuring COMP levels could serve as a prognostic marker for the development of OA in patients with chronic knee pain. In OA, elevated IL-1 levels increase matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels and reduce TIMP synthesis. IL-1 plays the major role in the production of destructive enzymes. It also increases the synthesis of PGE2, which promotes inflammation and bone resorption. While severe heat stress causes cellular damage and cell death, the mild heat stress seen in balneotherapy induces a heat shock response. Following stress stimuli such as heat and inflammation, intracellular synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSp) increases, and there is a significant transition to the extracellular space. After heat stress, HSp levels in the blood increase, triggering the HSp-cytokine-HPA-cortisol anti-inflammatory feedback mechanism. To investigate the effect of balneotherapy on these markers; Male and female patients aged between 50 and 80 years with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) at stages 2 to 4 according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification (Kellgren and Lawrence, 1957), based on imaging performed within the past year, were included in the study. The study is a parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted at the Thermal Center of Kırşehir Ahi Evran Training and Research Hospital. The RCT was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University; The study is planned to start in July 2025 and to be completed in November 2025. Participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups in a 1:1 allocation ratio. The intervention group is planned to receive therapy 5 days a week, at the same time each morning, for 15-20 minutes per session, totaling 15 sessions. The control group will receive a home exercise program and simple analgesic treatment such as paracetamol. Both control and intervention groups received a booklet with general information and advice about how to improve the symptoms and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Data will be expressed as mean ± SD. Statistical analyses will be performed using SPSS version 22. A p-value of \<0.05 will be considered statistically significant. Wilcoxon test will be used for comparisons before and after treatment, and Mann-Whitney U test will be used for comparisons between groups.