Recent status of hydrotherapy and balneotherapy with clinical beneficial effects

Abstract

In the Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and Integrated Medicine (IM), hydrotherapy and balneotherapy have been important treatment. They have several pleiotropic effects, such as thermal effects, buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, viscous resistance and chemical effects. There is clinical efficacy to various diseases or states, including neck pain, low back pain, knee osteoarthritis, Parkinson disease, and so on. New trial with health promotion strategy with balneotherapy has been reported along World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy.