The aim of the study was to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of spa therapy on quality of life and pain in patients aged 65 years and older with osteoarthritis.

70 patients with osteoarthritis referred to spa treatment in south-eastern Poland were enrolled in the study. Spa treatment lasted 3 weeks.

All the patients benefited from spa therapy.

VAS pain scale, the Laitinen scale and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire were used to assess the condition of the patients. The examinations were performed three times: at the beginning of the spa treatment, after three months and one year after the first examinations.

In an interventional study design, there have been examined patients aged over 65 years with the diagnosis of osteoarthritis who were prescribed a first spa therapy course in spa resorts in south-eastern Poland, between April 2016 and July 2016.

Patients were assessed by an experienced physicians on the first day of the spa therapy (study 1), after three months (study 2) and one year (study 3) after the completion of the spa therapy.

All patients who had been enrolled to the study, were asked to fill out the appropriate questionnaires (on the first day of the spa therapy). The investigators ensured that questionnaires were properly completed, under the supervision of researcher previously trained for their application. Second (study 2) and third (study 3) stages of the study were performed after three months, and one year after the first study, respectively (participants were interviewed by telephone survey).

Interventions Spa treatment was applied during a session lasting 120 to 150 minutes a day. Spa treatment lasted 3 weeks, including treatments from Monday to Friday (15 days of treatment). As a part of comprehensive spa treatment, all the patients benefited from kinesiotherapy, physical agent modalities (electrotherapy, phototherapy), massage and balneotherapy (peloid therapy, hydrotherapy with mineral waters, crenotherapy).

Inclusion Criteria:

• age over 65
• diagnosis of osteoarthritis,
• completion of 3 weeks of spa treatment
• patient's consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• failure to complete 3-weeks spa treatment,
• significant random events during follow-up
• diagnosed other diseases during follow-up,
• other forms of therapy implemented during follow-up,
• refusal to participate in II or III stage of the study