Direct and remote evaluation of effectiveness of health resort therapy on people with discopathy of the lumbar spine

Introduction
Lower back afflictions are a challenge for contemporary physiotherapy, both in preventive treatment and streamline proceedings. The aim of this study was to evaluate effec-tiveness of a complex program of health resort therapeutics in soothing pain and reducing functional limitations in people with discopathy of the lumbar spine.

Material and methods
360 people aged 50-60 with discopathy of the lumbar spine, including 180 boarders of a Health Resort “Piast” in Iwonicz-Zdrój (experimental group) and 180 am-bulatory patients of the Non-public Healthcare Centre REH-MED in Jasło (control group) were surveyed three times. The research tool was a Numeric Rating Scale of pain intensity (NRS) and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Anova Friedman test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whithey U test were used for analyses.

Results
Before the beginning of therapy intensity of pain and functional condition of people qualified for particular groups was similar (p=0.848, p=0.872). Decline of intensity of pain took place by the action of therapy, both in case of patients from the experimental group (p=0.000), as well as the control group (p=0.001). Within 3 months from the completion of streamlining, intensity of pain of patients from the experimental group was gradually lowering, and in the control group it increased. Statistically significant differences in results after 3 months from the completion of therapy between the groups were stated (p=0.000). Just after treatment and 3 months later health resort patients had better functional ability (p=0.011, p=0.006).

Conclusions
Complex proceedings in health resort therapeutics in comparison to ambulatory therapy bring more permanent results in the soothing pain and reduction of functional limita-tions resulting from lumbar degenerative disc disorder.