Abstract

Estonia has long experience in health resort based treatment courses which last several weeks and lead to good results in the treatment of rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of a 6-day health resort treatment course in patients with osteoarthritis, spondylosis and rheumatoid arthritis and to compare it with the results of 10–12-day treatment. Nine health resort treatment institutions and 624 patients participated in the study. In the case of both 6-day and 10–12-day courses, there was a statistically significant decrease in the intensity of disease symptoms in all disease groups. Patients with spondylosis had somewhat better treatment results in the treatment group of 10–12 days. Patients with osteoarthritis revealed no differences in the treatment results depending on the length of the course. However, long-term changes occur in the organism in the second week of treatment and the condition of patients can improve after the end of the treatment course. For comparison of the efficiency of 6-day and 10–12-day treatment courses it is necessary to monitor patients after health resort treatment. Stationary treatment yielded better results compared with ambulatory treatment. Complex therapy in Estonian health resort treatment institutions, including a 6-day treatment course, has a good effect in the treatment of osteoarthritis, spondylosis and rheumatoid arthritis.