Immunophysiology Research Group, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
Int J Biometeorol. 2024 Jan;68(1):153-161. doi: 10.1007/s00484-023-02579-0. Epub 2023 Nov 10.
Spa therapy consists of multiple techniques based on the healing effects of water, including hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, and mud therapy, often combined with therapeutic exercises, massage, or physical therapy. Balneotherapy is a clinically effective complementary approach in the treatment of low-grade inflammation- and stress-related pathologies, especially rheumatic conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties. The main objective of this investigation was to conduct a systematic review analyzing the available evidence on the effect of spa therapy on serotonin and dopamine function. The databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were used from June to July 2023. Exclusion criteria were (1) articles not written in English, (2) full text not available, (3) article not related to the objective of the review. JADAD scale was used for methodological quality evaluation. Four studies were included in the systematic review. Two studies were related to serotonin in healthy individuals, one to serotonin in fibromyalgia, and one to dopamine in healthy individuals. One of the studies evaluated hydrotherapy, another one balneotherapy and mud-bath therapy, and the other two assessed balneotherapy interventions. Studies were very heterogeneous, and their methodological quality was low, making it difficult to draw clear conclusions regarding the effect of spa therapy on peripheral serotonin and dopamine function. The findings of this review highlight the lack of studies evaluating these neurotransmitters and hormones in the context of spa therapy. Further research is needed to evaluate the potential effects of these therapies on serotonin or dopamine function.
水疗疗法包括多种基于水的治疗效果的技术,包括水疗、浴疗和泥疗,通常结合治疗性运动、按摩或物理疗法。浴疗是一种临床有效的补充方法,可治疗低度炎症和应激相关的疾病,特别是风湿疾病,因为它具有抗炎特性。本研究的主要目的是进行系统评价,分析水疗对血清素和多巴胺功能影响的现有证据。从 2023 年 6 月至 7 月,使用了 PubMed、Web of Science、Scopus 和 Cochrane 中央对照试验注册中心(CENTRAL)数据库。排除标准为:(1)非英语撰写的文章;(2)无法获取全文;(3)与综述目的无关的文章。JADAD 量表用于评估方法学质量。系统评价纳入了四项研究。其中两项研究与健康个体的血清素有关,一项与纤维肌痛患者的血清素有关,一项与健康个体的多巴胺有关。其中一项研究评估了水疗,另一项研究评估了浴疗和泥浴疗法,另外两项研究评估了浴疗干预。研究非常多样化,其方法学质量较低,因此难以就水疗对周围血清素和多巴胺功能的影响得出明确结论。本综述的结果强调了缺乏评估这些神经递质和激素在水疗背景下的研究。需要进一步研究评估这些疗法对血清素或多巴胺功能的潜在影响。