Short-term effects of peloid therapy in low back pain: first insights from a monocenter retrospective study

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent condition affecting a significant portion of the adult population, often leading to decreased quality of life and increased healthcare costs. This study evaluates the short-term clinical efficacy of peloid therapy, a form of balneotherapy, in managing CLBP in a large monocenter cohort of patients. Conducted at the Samsun Training and Research Hospital, it retrospectively analyzed data from patients treated between October 2022 and October 2024. A total of 263 patients underwent peloid therapy for 7 to 15 days. The physicochemical properties of the peloid used were analyzed, and outcome measures included the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Visual Analog Scales (VAS) for pain, patient global assessment (VAS-PGA), and physician global assessment (VAS-PhGA). Pre- and post-treatment comparisons were performed using paired t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of treatment response. Statistically significant improvements were observed in all outcome measures post-treatment (p < 0.001). HAQ scores decreased from 0.99 ± 0.52 to 0.48 ± 0.41, ODI scores from 54.6 ± 21.0 to 34.7 ± 18.5, and all VAS scores showed significant reductions, with large effect sizes (Cohen's d > 1.0). Longer treatment duration and being non-working were associated with greater improvements in HAQ and ODI scores. No significant influence was observed for gender, obesity, smoking status, or comorbidities. The study highlights the potential of peloid therapy as an effective, non-pharmacological treatment for CLBP, offering a cost-effective and accessible alternative within the Turkey healthcare system. These findings suggest that peloid therapy can significantly reduce pain and improve function in CLBP patients in the short-term, supporting its integration into comprehensive, non-pharmacological pain management strategies.