RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: 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. DESIGN: Uncontrolled clinical trial. SETTING: Private floatation spa therapy centre. PATIENTS: Fourteen patients with chronic osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints, of whom four dropped out. INTERVENTION: Six weekly sessions of floatation spa therapy. OUTCOME MEASURES: SF36, AIMS2 and MYMOP quality-of-life questionnaires. MAIN RESULTS: All patients improved. Differences between baseline and discharge scores showed statistically significant improvement for MYMOP, but not AIMS2 or SF-36. CONCLUSIONS: Controlled trials of floatation spa therapy for patients with osteoarthritis are warranted.