The Effect of Bathing in the Thermal Mineral Water on the Pain and Performance of Athletes

In rowing sports, where the same series of movements are repeated thousands of times, the lower lumbar region is the most stressed part. Because of this, even training on an ergometer can cause numerous lower back problems, even among competitors. In addition, rowers use many muscle groups during their sport, for which the beneficial effect of thermal medicinal waters, affecting the entire musculoskeletal system, can be beneficial, and is used for rehabilitation purposes in several countries.

Studies describe the numerous positive effects of bathing in warm water (37-46°C) in increasing blood flow, regulating blood sugar, and even the positive response of the vascular system.

The Palatinus Spa's water supply is provided by the drilled thermal wells of Margit Island of Budapest.

Regarding its type, the medicinal water is a low salt concentration, calcium-magnesium-hydrogen carbonate, chloride, and sulfate medicinal water, which also has a significant fluoride and metasilicic acid content. The total dissolved mineral content is 1205 mg/liter. In the study, we would conduct the clinical trial necessary for the "Margaret Island mineral water" / 37-38 °C / thermal mineral water of the Margitszigeti É. III well to be declared medicinal water.

Research Question Primary objective: Effect of bathing in the "Margaret Island mineral water" thermal mineral water of the Margaret Island III well on the performance and potential pain of athletes. Randomized, controlled, single-blind study.

Secondary objective: To what extent does thermal water treatment lead to a change in the quality of life of those receiving it compared to their initial condition, and what is the magnitude of this change compared to the control group?

Inclusion criteria

• Rowers coming from the surrounding area, with registration at the Hungarian Rowing Federation (MESZ), including competitive/touring and recreational/masters rowers
• Women and men between 18 and 75 years of age
• Participating in regular training for at least 6 months
• Signed informed consent form prior to the start of the study

Exclusion criteria

• Acute pain;
• Organic neurological deficit;
• Malignancy in the background;
• Pain attributable to inflammatory disease;
• Participants must not have received systemic or local steroid therapy, physiotherapy as a course of treatment, massage therapy, or balneotherapy as a course of treatment within 3 months prior to the study;

General contraindications of balneotherapy:

• unstable angina pectoris,
• uncontrolled hypertension,
• cardiac decompensation,
• respiratory failure,
• unbalanced endocrinological disease,
• acute febrile condition,
• infectious skin diseases,
• other serious internal, urogenital, and other diseases, urinary and fecal incontinence,
• decompensated psychosis and neurosis, lack of compliance