Rehabilitation of patients with osteoarthritis using tereklit clay in North Ossetia-Alania

Abstract

Aim. To study the effectiveness of combined treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) using tereklit clay in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania.Material and methods. The study included 110 patients aged 34 to 65 years with a disease duration of 1 to 10 years or more, in whom OA was diagnosed as polyosteoarthritis of I, II, III stages. All patients underwent clinical, X-ray and laboratory research, as well as osteodensitometry. In the conditions of the rehabilitation center in Vladikavkaz, patients were prescribed segmental reflex applications of tereklit clay on the affected joints at a temperature of 42 C for 15 minutes for 2 days in a row, followed by a day of rest. The course lasted 10 procedures.Results. As a result, favorable changes were observed, manifested in a decrease in pain and swelling in the joints, as well as in an improvement in its motor function on days 7-10 of treatment. The balneal reaction was not observed in any case.Conclusion. Tereklit clay applications are effective within combined therapy of patients with OA. Contraindication to clay therapy is OA with reactive synovitis, severe pain and exudation.