Studies on the effectiveness of hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy studies
Get a scientifically sound insight into the versatile effects of thermal water & hydrotherapy on various health problems.
Scientific studies on the effects of hydrotherapy: an overview
Even the ancient Greeks and Romans were convinced that water has healing powers. Whether in the form of a soothing thermal bath, targeted Kneipp treatments or as part of modern balneotherapy - today, hydrotherapy methods offer a wide range of approaches to promote health and alleviate ailments.
An impressive range of scientific studies shed light on the therapeutic effects of these treatments. We have therefore compiled the most important research results for you in this collection of studies. For example, thermal water and hydrotherapy have been shown to provide noticeable pain relief and improve mobility in cases of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Positive effects have also been documented for chronic cardiac and venous insufficiency and peripheral neuropathy. Further studies highlight the importance of hydrotherapy for skin and respiratory diseases.
Kneipp treatments are also particularly noteworthy: cold water stimuli promote cognitive performance in old age and hydrotherapy helps to lower blood pressure. The positive effect of thermal water containing sulphur or thoron on high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer aftercare has also been confirmed.
These results underline the variety of possible applications and the simultaneously gentle and effective mode of action of hydrotherapy.
Healing & thermal therapy
Heart / Circulatory system
Kneipp therapy
Romain J. Forestier et al.
September 2014
The study shows that complementary balneotherapy significantly improves the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency.
Healing & thermal therapy
Psoriasis / Eczema
Skin / Allergies
Thalasso treatment
Stefania Farina et al.
January 2011
The study shows that balneotherapy reduces symptoms in children with atopic dermatitis for a longer period of time than corticosteroids.
Healing & thermal therapy
Respiratory system / Asthma
Dominika Zajac
August 2021
The study shows that thermal water inhalations alleviate the symptoms of respiratory diseases and improve the quality of life.
Healing & thermal therapy
Stress / Exhaustion
Women's health / Menopause
Bei Yang et al.
February 2018
The study shows that thermal baths significantly improve sleep, stress, general health problems and women's complaints.
Back pain
Back treatment
Healing & thermal therapy
Elif Yolgösteren, Sevinç Külekçioğlu
August 2021
The study shows: Balneotherapy & water exercises relieve pain, improve mobility & quality of life in chronic back pain.
Healing & thermal therapy
Psoriasis / Eczema
Skin / Allergies
Jenna Huld Eysteinsdóttir et al.
December 2013
The study shows that a combined treatment of thermal treatment and UVB phototherapy is more effective for psoriasis than NB-UVB alone.
Cancer rehabilitation
Healing & thermal therapy
Charline Mourgues et al.
May 2014
The study shows that a thermal cure supports the resumption of professional and non-professional activities in women after breast cancer.
Diabetes
Healing & thermal therapy
High blood pressure
Takahiro Kataoka et al.
January 2006
The study shows that thermal water containing thoron improves diabetes, prevents peroxidation and alleviates high blood pressure.
Healing & thermal therapy
Skin / Allergies
Susanne Grether-Beck et al.
July 2021
The study shows: The algae from the Blue Lagoon visibly reduce pigmentation spots on the face, which evens out the skin tone.
Healing & thermal therapy
Skin / Allergies
Ehrhardt Proksch et al.
February 2005
The study shows: Magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin hydration, barrier function & inflammation in atopic eczema.
Healing & thermal therapy
Kneipp therapy
Respiratory system / Asthma
Katrin Goedsche et al.
June 2007
The study shows that Kneipp treatments improve lung function and quality of life in COPD patients and reduce infections.
Healing & thermal therapy
Rheumatism / Joints / Arthritis / Arthrosis
A. Fazaa et al.
September 2014
The study shows that a thermal treatment for knee osteoarthritis achieves significantly better long-term results than conventional therapy.
Healing & thermal therapy
High blood pressure
Kneipp therapy
E.-M. Jacob, E.Volger
June 2009
The study shows that Kneipp treatments lowered blood pressure significantly more in hypertensive patients undergoing rehabilitation.
Healing & thermal therapy
Shinya Hayasaka et al.
July 2013
The study shows that hot baths promote the absorption of catechins, which have a positive effect on health.
Anti-stress
Fango treatment
Healing & thermal therapy
Peat & healing mud
Thalasso treatment
Lolita Rapolienė et al.
May 2015
The study shows that balneotherapy significantly reduces stress and improves general well-being and health.
Healing & thermal therapy
Rheumatism / Joints / Arthritis / Arthrosis
Á Kulisch et al.
May 2014
The study shows that Hévíz thermal water relieves knee osteoarthritis pain, improves joint function & increases quality of life.
Healing & thermal therapy
Heart / Circulatory system
M. I. Zubareva et al.
August 2011
The study shows: Mineral water baths and underwater pressure massages show positive effects in patients with coronary heart disease.
Healing & thermal therapy
Kneipp therapy
Rheumatism / Joints / Arthritis / Arthrosis
Thalasso treatment
R. Forestier et al.
September 2009
The study shows that bathing therapies for knee osteoarthritis can achieve long-term improvements in combination with exercise & medication.
Healing & thermal therapy
Psoriasis / Eczema
Skin / Allergies
Agnes Szenczi et al.
April 2023
The study shows that balneotherapy reduces oxidative stress in psoriasis and improves the condition of the skin.
Back treatment
Healing & thermal therapy
Nur Kesiktas et al.
October 2012
The study shows: Balneotherapy with exercise improves quality of life, back muscles and flexibility in chronic back pain.
Healing & thermal therapy
Heart / Circulatory system
Kneipp therapy
Thalasso treatment
Jun-Ichi Oyama et al.
January 2012
The study shows that balneotherapy in chronic heart failure improves heart function and significantly reduces inflammation.
Fango treatment
Healing & thermal therapy
Peat & healing mud
Ali Osman Bağdatlı et al.
April 2015
The study shows that balneotherapy as an adjunct to education significantly improves the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Healing & thermal therapy
Osteoporosis / Bones
Xiaoling Lv et al.
June 2021
The study shows that balneotherapy and aqua aerobics promote bone health by reducing bone resorption.
Healing & thermal therapy
Kneipp therapy
Rheumatism / Joints / Arthritis / Arthrosis
Martin Schencking et al.
January 2013
The study shows that hydrotherapy significantly relieves the pain of knee and hip osteoarthritis and improves joint mobility.
Healing & thermal therapy
Joanna Vaile et al.
June 2008
The study shows that cold water immersion (KWI) and contrast water therapy (KWT) improve recovery from muscle soreness.
Healing & thermal therapy
Kneipp therapy
Bernhard Uehleke et al.
September 2008
The study shows that Kneipp hydrotherapy significantly alleviates dysesthesia and improves hypesthesia in peripheral neuropathy.
Healing & thermal therapy
Kneipp therapy
T. J. Doering et al.
April 2001
The study shows that cold Kneipp water treatments improve cognitive function in older people.
Anti-stress
Healing & thermal therapy
Stress / Exhaustion
Franziska Matzer et al.
May 2014
The study shows that balneotherapy leads to an increase in subjective relaxation and a reduction in salivary cortisol levels.
Healing & thermal therapy
Heart / Circulatory system
Mine Karagülle et al.
January 2017
The study shows that salt baths increase antioxidant activity and bring about clinical improvements in rheumatoid arthritis.
Healing & thermal therapy
Heart / Circulatory system
Valentin Leibetseder et al.
May 2004
The study shows that sulphur baths lower the tHcy level and thus have a positive influence on cardiovascular risk factors.
Healing & thermal therapy
Radon treatment
Respiratory system / Asthma
C. Prandelli et al.
September 2013
The study shows that thermal water containing sulphur inhibits inflammation and has an antioxidant effect on respiratory diseases.
Fango treatment
Healing & thermal therapy
Peat & healing mud
Rheumatism / Joints / Arthritis / Arthrosis
Antonella Fioravanti et al.
February 2010
The study shows that thermal baths and mud packs sustainably improve pain and function in knee osteoarthritis patients.
Healing & thermal therapy
Metabolism / Stomach / Intestines
Overweight / obesity
S. P. Hoekstra et al.
October 2018
The study shows that warm water immersion lowers fasting blood glucose and insulin, which improves glucose metabolism.