To conduct a preliminary investigation of the effects on floatation spa therapy on quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis to see if controlled trials are warranted.
Uncontrolled clinical trial.
Private floatation spa therapy centre.
Fourteen patients with chronic osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints, of whom four dropped out.
Six weekly sessions of floatation spa therapy.
SF36, AIMS2 and MYMOP quality-of-life questionnaires.
All patients improved. Differences between baseline and discharge scores showed statistically significant improvement for MYMOP, but not AIMS2 or SF-36.
Controlled trials of floatation spa therapy for patients with osteoarthritis are warranted.