• Tianwen Ma, Xiaopeng Song, Yuanqiang Ma, Hailong Hu, Hui Bai, Yue Li, and Li Gao.
• Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Jan 29; 100 (4): e24488e24488.

BackgroundTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of thermal mineral waters therapy for pain relief, and functional improvement, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsCochrane Library, Web of science, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials. Study inclusion criteria included assessment of the visual analog scale and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities scores and the lequesne index to evaluate the effects of thermal mineral waters on pain relief and functional improvement. Also, studies that used the European quality of life 5-dimension scale and health assessment questionnaire to assess the impact of thermal mineral waters therapy on improving QoL were included.ResultsSixteen studies were included. A meta-analysis showed that thermal mineral waters therapy could significantly reduce pain as measured visual analog scale and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities assessments (P < .001). Thermal mineral waters significantly reduced the lequesne index (P < .001) and improved joint function. Finally, compared with a control group, European quality of life 5-dimension scale and health assessment questionnaire improved significantly in patients with OA receiving thermal mineral waters therapy (P  < .05). There is no evidence that thermal mineral waters is unsafe for treating OA.ConclusionThermal mineral waters therapy is a safe way to relieve pain, improve physical functions, and QoL in patients with OA.Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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