Jadwiga Kuciel-Lewandowska, Łukasz B. Lewandowski, Agata Trafalska, Wojciech Laber, Krzysztof Szarejko, Joanna Kuć, Krzysztof Aleksandrowicz

J. Kuciel-Lewandowska, Ł. B. Lewandowski, A. Trafalska, W. Laber, K. Szarejko, J. Kuć, K. Aleksandrowicz – Assessment of the influence of comprehensive spa therapy with therapeutic radon waters on hemoglobin levels: preliminary study. Fizjoterapia Polska 2019; 19(1); 86-96

Abstract
Introduction. Balneotherapy is a complex therapeutic treatment. Radon treatment is a widely used procedure in musculoskeletal disorders. Clinical evaluation proves this form of therapy to be very beneficial for health. The evaluation of metabolic changes resulting from the influence of balneo treatments with radon waters is difficult to interpret and gives rise to many controversies.
Aim. The aim here was to evaluate changes in the hemoglobin level in patients undergoing complex spa treatment, and the effect of low doses of ionizing radiation from radon waters.
Materials and methods. The study group was comprised of patients undergoing complex spa treatment with radon water, peloid therapy, exercise therapy and kinezytherapyduring a twenty-one day rehabilitation stay. Hemoglobin levels were measured prior to therapy and after eighteen days of treatment. Research was comprised of n = 35 patients (24 female and 11 male) suffering from peripheral and spinal joint pain caused by degenerative disease or disc herniation. Age ranged from 47 – 63 years, and the mean age was 56.5. The control group consisted of fifteen subjects (9 male and 6 female) between the ages of 50 and 62 and the mean age of 54.2. Both groups were subject to the same inclusion and exclusion criteria and test procedures.
Results. There were no statistically significant changes between the research and control group in regard to hemoglobin levels. The results were not statistically significant when compared between the two study groups.
Conclusions. 1. The comprehensive spa treatment with peloid therapy, exercise therapy, kinezytherapy and low doses of ionizing radiation from radon waters did not affect the concentration of hemoglobin. 2. Future research should investigate a larger population and separate the elements of spa therapy.

Key words:
DDH, developmental hip dysplasia, pediatrics, newborns, hip joint