Chronic Pain and Oxidative Stress in Knee Osteoarthritis: Role of Sulphurous Mud-Balneotherapy

The literature demonstrated the involvement of oxidative stress in the osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis and the antioxidant effect of sulphurous mineral waters. Thus the objectives of the study were to investigatethe impact on symptoms and quality of life and a possible antioxidant action of sulphurous mud-balneotherapy in 38 patients suffering from Knee OA admitted to Telese spa (TeleseTerme, Benevento-Italy). 20 subjects (group A) did not take any NSAIDs or other drugs for gonarthrosis, 18 subjects (group B) were in treatment with ibuprofen administered orally. All patients havesubmitted to one cycle of mud-balneotherapy for 2 weeks by using sulphurous mineral water. Before and after the treatment in groups A and B were measured: VAS scores for pain during joint movement and the morning stiffness; AlgofunctionalLequesne index; and plasma [ROMs] levels using the d-ROMs test. Sulphurous mud-balneotherapy induceda significant (pu003c0.05) reduction of the VAS score symptoms compared to basal values both in group A and in group B, with improvement of quality of life as shown by Lequesne index; moreover it was observed a significant (pu003c0.05) decrease of plasma [ROMs] levels. In conclusion this study suggests that the sulphurous mud-balneotherapy could represent an important component of the overall strategy to treat knee OA.