Medical Balneology and Climatology in Europe (第55回日本体力医学会大会)
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概要
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Medical treatment at health resorts constitutes a major factor in the care of patients with chronic diseases. Health resort medicine has a long tradition in Central Europe and its impact on rehabilitation and prevention has been very well accepted in mainstream medicine until recent years. Present discussion about the future of health resorts is controversial. Can the same treatment benefit be obtained through in-town care near of the patient's home? Formerly, treatment at health resorts consisted mainly of spa therapy, especially the effects of climatic change and taking baths ("taking the waters"). Drinking cures using the local natural waters were commonplace and most important in stimulating not only somatic reactions but also communication among spa visitors. Health resorts used to be a summer meeting place for the members of high society, indiccating their social impact. In recent decades the picture has changed considerably. Modern forms of rehabilitation have been added and well-equipped hospitals built, so that both inpatient and outpatient (patients staying at hotels) rehabilitation and prevention courses are offered. Nowadays, exercise therapy, sports, physiotherapy, patient education and anti-stress programs are offered at almost all health resorts. Many spas now also include alternative and complementary medicine in their treatment. A combination of these courses is the mainstay of therapy for patients with chronic diseases.Most patients suffer from rheumatic disorders, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, impairment due to neurologic deficits, and health problems related to old age.Nevertheless, climatic change, low air pollution and the undisturbed natural environment add to the benefit of out-of-town rehabilitation at health resorts, and water from natural springs is still used for medical treatment.All treatments at health resorts should be adapted to the patient's personal health problems. After physical examination the physician prescribes the most promising therapies. The aim is not to direct abnormal values to the normal range by external therapies, but to stimulate and train personal responses so as to increase the patient's own ability to maintain homeostasis without external support, i.e. to maintain his health. Environmental stimuli using local natural resources are part of the therapeutic regime at health resorts. The usual length of a rehabilitation course at a health resort is three weeks, but in Europe financial pressure is growing to reduce this time. Only few studies exist on the issue of cost effectiveness of health resort medicine.The results of these studies suggest that, in the long term, funds may be saved by optimal rehabilitation courses at health resorts.Further studies on this issue are, however, surely needed.
- 日本体力医学会の論文
- 2001-02-01