Franziska Matzer et al.
May 2014
Anti-stress
Healing & thermal therapy
Stress / Exhaustion
The stress-reducing effects of balneotherapy compared to progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and rest were investigated by measuring subjective relaxation and salivary cortisol levels. It was also tested whether participants with high versus low stress levels showed a different relaxation response.
A sample of healthy volunteers was randomized into the balneotherapy, PMR or rest control groups, with each intervention lasting 25 minutes. Saliva samples were collected before and after the intervention to determine cortisol levels, and participants rated their relaxation status on a quantitative scale. In addition, 3 questionnaires were used to record the participants' stress levels and physical complaints.
49 healthy participants (65.3% women) were recruited for the study conducted by Franziska Matzer et al. In a pre-post comparison , salivary cortisol levels decreased and subjective relaxation ratings increased in all 3 groups. Study participants in the balneotherapy group rated themselves as more relaxed after the intervention compared to the other groups. Participants with high versus low stress levels differed in somatic symptoms and morning cortisol levels, but showed a similar relaxation response.
The results suggest that balneotherapy appears to be more beneficial compared to PMR and rest in terms of subjective relaxation effects and equally beneficial in terms of lowering salivary cortisol levels.
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
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
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.