Authors' objectives:

The objective of this report is to review technologies in medical hydrology and hydrotherapy.

Authors' recommendations: This report contains the medical techniques and Technologies used in balneology, with a detailed description regarding their indications and applications according to different complaints. By developing and applying balneology in different Thermal Centres, important and significant therapeutic results can be achieved which are not only applicable to specific groups of elderly people, as was erroneously believed, but also to the rest of the population, including children, with important preventive results. It is important to value and dedicate a little attention to spa treatments and the practical interest which they can represent in our current therapeutic range. Its influence on aging, being this a predominant population sector in our Health Centres, where it can offer more efficient therapeutic solutions, that is as effective as other treatments but cheaper, providing a disability free quality of life, clinical improvement, decreasing the consumption of certain pharmaceutical products, and work and school absences, in some cases.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.isciii.es/aets

Year Published: 2006

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Spain

Organisation Name: Agencia de Evaluacion de Tecnologias Sanitarias

Contact Address: Instituto de Salud "Carlos III", Calle Sinesio Delgado 6, Pabellon 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain. Tel: +34 9 1 822 2005; Fax: +34 9 1 387 7841;

Contact Name: Luis M. Sánchez Gómez

Contact Email: luism.sanchez@isciii.es

Copyright: Agencia de Evaluacion de Tecnologias Sanitarias (AETS)