[Physical therapy and balneotherapy of arthritis]

The "points of attack" of physical therapy in osteoarthritis are the impaired metabolism of cartilage, the accompanying extra-articular pains in ligaments and muscles and the secondary inflammation. Heat treatment and exercises both have useful metabolic effects; furthermore they influence pain, muscle tone, mobility and blood flow. When secondary inflammation occurs, osteoarthritis should be treated like joint inflammations with short time immobilisation and cold treatment. Osteoarthritis of small finger joints can be treated in the same manner as osteoarthritis of large joints by movement-exercises in warm or cold mud. Spa-treatment as a combination of warm springs, mud etc, with exercises, dietary supplement and health education is a very traditional and useful kind of treatment of osteoarthritis with long term effects. Measurements of physical therapy are also of preventive value. Since physical therapy primarily is always strenuous for the organism, in higher age it must be used careful and well adapted to the tolerability of patients.