Clinical Significance of Balneotherapy as an Adaptation Therapy
10.11390/onki1962.44.85
- VernacularTitle:適応療法としての温泉療養の臨床医学的意義
- Author:
Hideo TSUJI
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine
1981;44(3-4):85-91
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Repeated application of stimulus induces the state of adaptation, both specific and non-specific to that particular stimulus. Non-specific adaptation implies an increased ability of the body to maintain homeostasis in stress conditions irrespective of stresses, which has been known as the so-called cross adaptation. Balneotherapy is considered to be the non-specific stimulation- or adaptation-therapy, utilizing several environmental stimulus including hotspring bathing, climatic change and physical exercise. Purpose of the therapy is to recover and increase patient's tolerance for stressors in daily life.
We have studied physical exercise training to demonstrate its beneficial effects in patients undergoing major surgical procedures. More than 200 patients, 90% of them were over 60 year of age, were subjected to the study.
Preoperatively, physical fitness of the patients was estimated by test exercise using the principle of Harvard step test. Patients with poor physical fitness were subjected to preoperative exercise training consisted of ergometer pedalling or out-door walking. Physical fitness was significantly improved in 90% of the exercised patients. No undesirable side effect of the exercise training was noted.
The results suggestive of clinical significance of the exercise training were as follows:
I. Operative risk of the patients with pre-existing cardiac abnormalities seemed to be detectable by the exercise test and could be improved by the exercise training.
2. Lowered pulmonary functions due to sedentariness in elderly patients were improved after the training. The training was also effective in increasing work capacity of the patients whose performance had been thought to be limited by pulmonary diseases.
The incidence of postperative pulmonary complications was tended to be reduced by the pre-operative exercise training.
3. Exercise training in the patients with hepatic cirrhosis improved their physical fitness and subjective well-being without showing any adverse effects on liver function tests. Diabetes associated with hepatic cirrhosis was significantly improved by of training short period in most of the patients studied.
These results may indicate the significance of the adaptation therapy in improving the quality of life of the patients with incurable chronic disabling diseases.
