Study Review of the Effectiveness of Mud Pack Therapy in Patients With Osteoarthritis
Mud therapy has been used for centuries for the treatment of various conditions such as arthritis, gout, tendonitis, cramps, joint arthritis, muscle spasms, and back aches. The mud is often mixed with ground water and gently applied on painful joints. Over the years, the use of mud pack therapy has gained popularity among people from all walks of life who seek relief from the discomfort and pain associated with such conditions. It has been found that mud packs can provide significant relief from joint pain, including tennis elbow, tendinitis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more. This type of mud therapy procedure can also help increase flexibility. As studies continue to progress, there are several mud packs that can be used to treat various ailments.
Arthritis is a very common disease found in both humans and animals. Osteoarthritis is also commonly referred to as "boxing foot," because it causes a person's big toe to resemble a boxing glove. Osteoarthritis affects millions of Americans, and is responsible for many of the patients' discomfort while they are suffering from it. The pain can be mild to severe, depending upon the specific cartilage affected by the disease. Some of the more common conditions treated with mud bath therapy include osteoarthritis caused by trauma or disease, rheumatoid arthritis caused by inflammation or infection, and inflammatory arthritis caused by the buildup of toxins and fluids in the tissues.
A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology reveals that mud pack therapy is effective in the relief of symptoms of osteoarthritis. The study tested thirty subjects, all of whom had suffered from mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee over the previous twelve months. These individuals were required to wear a study device on their knees for several hours each day. An electrotherapy device measured the amount of electric current passing through the subjects. After four weeks of daily treatment, there was a significant improvement noted in terms of pain reduction, as well as an increase in flexibility. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of mud pack therapy in the relief of many conditions.
There are several reasons why mud pack therapy is especially beneficial in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. One is that it increases the blood flow and mobility to the affected area. Another is that mud aids in the natural healing process by penetrating the skin and tissue and supporting the cartilage. And the last benefit of the mud bath is simply that it is very relaxing.
This study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Bahador Bahrami-Sadeghi of the University of Nottingham, UK. Their research was funded by the Natural Health Products Research Council of Australia. They published their significant improvements findings in the open publication Journal of Physiology. The researchers made specific reference to previous studies which had found that mud pack therapy was effective for patients with osteoarthritis. However, they also included a systematic review of previously published studies, which they felt provided further support for the effectiveness of this type of therapy in Ajmal Dawakhana UK.
The systematic review involved searching for studies whose objective was to assess the effects of mud pack therapy on pain and/or inflammation. The researchers performed a literature search using key words related to pain reduction, reducing inflammation and/or pain, and the terms'mud pack therapy', 'physical therapy' and 'heel pain'. After reviewing the titles and abstracts of nine scientific studies whose purpose was to assess these terms, the researchers selected seven papers for inclusion. Subsequently, the researchers contacted the authors of the selected studies to request additional information. The review team then contacted the manufacturers of mud pack therapy products to obtain further details on the use of these products and the frequency of its use.
The researchers conducted two main objectives during the study period: first, to assess the effect of mud pack therapy on the main objective of treatment, pain reduction, in patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Second, to assess the effectiveness of this treatment in sub-groups of patients diagnosed with different types of the disease. After analysing these data, the researchers concluded that there was sufficient evidence to indicate that mud pack therapy is an effective technique in the management of osteoarthritis pain in both the acute and chronic phases. They further concluded that patients who were not using such treatment had better outcomes compared to those who are using it.
The first set of analysis consisted of two separate phases. The first one was to evaluate the effect of mud pack therapy on patients diagnosed with Osteoarthritis; and secondly, to evaluate the effect of it on sub-group of patients diagnosed with other types of this condition. For this analysis, the investigators chose four main criteria: the presence of at least one of the symptoms as defined by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOLF); presence of joint deformities; absence of joint stiffness; and absence of MRI confirmation of joint atrophy. The investigators also wanted to include a random sample of patients whose objective was to achieve pain relief, as the use of this technique might have the effect of reducing the pain symptoms in such cases.
