Study on the Health Promoting Effect of the Comprehensive Balneotherapy
- VernacularTitle:総合的な温泉療法の健康増進効果に関する検討
- Author:
Kazuo UEBABA
;
Feng-Hao XU
;
Toshiki YAZAKI
;
Hiroharu KAMIOKA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
comprehensive balneotherapy;
aqua-exercise;
randomized controlled trial;
health promotion
- From:The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine
2006;69(2):128-138
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Balneotherapy includes several modalities of treatments and wellness programs, such as physiological and pharmacological effects of hot spring bathing and aqua-exercise, relaxing and biorhythm adjusting effects of staying in the urban climates and educational instruction for healthier life style. We examined health promoting effects of the comprehensive balneotherapy as a whole by the randomized controlled study. 89 women, who had no medical care, and were aged 40-65 years (mean +/- SD age: 59.0 +/- 8.0 years), volunteered for this investigation. Subjects were assigned at random to three groups; group 1 was the control group without any intervention; group 2 with exercise for 60min and educational guidance; group 3 with exercise for 30min and balneotherapy including aquaexercise for 30min and bathing in hot spring for 30min in addition to educational guidance. Each group followed the prescribed program twice a week for 3 months. There was no significant difference in age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, heart rate, %FAT, diet/exercise custom and psychological conditions among the three groups. Before and after the program, the physiological, biochemical and psychological measurements were performed: body weight, blood pressure, heart rate, physical strength using ergometer, serum lipids, liver function and questionnaires with profile of mood state (POMS) and self relating depression scale (SDS). After excluding 4 subjects who were dropped out because of their convenience, the results were compared. In group 2 (N=28) and 3 (N=28), body weight, BMI, blood pressure and heart rate were significantly decreased and their physical strength and psychological condition were improved significantly (p<0.05). Furthermore only in group 3, serum total cholesterol, atherogenic index and triglyceride were significantly decreased (p<0.05). The difference between these two groups was not due to changing of their diet and estimated energy consumption by daily activities during 3 months. These data suggest the efficacy of balneotherapy with hot spring bathing and aqua-exercise for health promotion.
