Mud Treatments Soothe Arthritis Pain

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Aug. 26, 2002 -- Looking for a quick and dirty way to relieve knee arthritis

pain? New research from Israel shows that mineral-rich mud compresses may do

the trick, but some arthritis experts aren't so sure.

Mud treatments have long been popular at spas throughout the world, but there

is little scientific evidence to back up claims of their healing powers.

In the newly published study, researchers from Ben Gurion University found

that patients treated with mud compresses taken from the mineral-rich Dead

Sea reported less knee pain from osteoarthritis. Far fewer patients treated

with mud without minerals reported improvement.

The researchers say that treatments with the mineral-rich mud could augment

conventional medical therapies for the relief of knee arthritis pain. Their

findings were reported in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical

Rheumatology.

But experts say the study, funded by the company that markets the Dead Sea

mud, is far from conclusive.

" The Arthritis Foundation believes that mud therapy has not been well studied

in arthritis, and the role of mud therapy to relieve pain or improve joint

mobility is unproven, " H. Klippel, medical director of the Arthritis

Foundation, tells WebMD.

Judith Horstman, who wrote The Arthritis Foundation's Guide to Alternative

Therapies, tells WebMD that she has heard little about the use of mud for the

treatment of arthritis. But she says other alternative treatments that once

seemed extreme have become almost mainstream in recent years.

For example, many studies have shown that the nutritional supplements

glucosamine and chondroitin relieve joint pain in patients with knee

arthritis. And at least one study showed that glucosamine actually slows the

progression of osteoarthritis.

And exercises that strengthen muscles without putting stress on the joints

are now considered essential in the treatment of arthritis. Recent studies

suggest the ancient Chinese practice known as Tai Chi, which combines

meditation with slow, fluid movement, can be very beneficial for people with

arthritis. The circular motion involved in the exercise relieves joint

stiffness and helps improve balance.

" Unfortunately, exercise is considered an alternative therapy because so few

people do it, " says Horstman, who recently co-authored a book on Tai Chi for

arthritis patients. " Exercise is among the least popular, but most effective,

therapies for knee osteoarthritis. "