Hand Osteoarthritis: Is Balneotherapy Useful? Bridging the Gap in the Literature with a Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) represents a common presentation of osteoarthritis, significantly affecting patients’ quality of life and daily activities. The 2018 EULAR recommendations underline the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, combining non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments. Yet, the role of balneotherapy (BT) in the HOA therapeutic regimen remains unclear. This review seeks to bridge the gap by exploring recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigate the potential benefits of BT as a complementary intervention for managing HOA. This scoping review investigates original research articles published between January 2003 and August 2023 through a comprehensive search across MEDLINE (PubMed), Google Scholar, and Web of Science. The findings from this scoping review contribute to the growing corpus of evidence indicating that BT, particularly when employing specific methods like mud packs and mineral-rich baths, presents a promising role in reducing pain and enhancing functionality and quality of life, particularly in the initial phases of the condition. These findings highlight the potential therapeutic efficacy of BT interventions and support their inclusion as a complementary approach in managing HOA and preventing its progression. However, further research and the undertaking of larger-scale trials are imperative to validate these preliminary findings.