Letters
Do you have a strong opinion, or disagree with somebody else’s point of view on topics related to the spa industry? If so, Spa Business would love to hear from you. Email your letters, thoughts and suggestions to
theteam@spabusiness.com
Research, not a tie-up with healthcare, is the answer
Dr Zeki Karagulle, professor, Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul University
In the last issue of Spa Business, a feature suggested that a tie up with healthcare could be the spa industry’s reward for being more savvy about scientifi c research (SB10/3, p20). In central, southern and eastern European countries, balneother- apy and spa therapy – balneotherapy combined with mud therapy, massage, exercise and other treatments – are already part of the conventional medical system and are, at least in part, reim- bursed by health insurance systems. Is a union with spas and healthcare, as it happens Europe, possible for the glo- bal spa industry? Maybe. However, I don’t think the spas need to build a relationship with the medical sector to become more savvy about scientifi c research, they sim- ply need their own scientifi c research. To do this, the industry needs to co-op- erate and collaborate with medical and scientifi c researchers and/or institutions. For example, at Istanbul University we have recently conducted a meta-analysis and assessed all data from randomised controlled trails testing spa therapy and balneotherapy for patients with lower back pain. We found some encouraging evi- dence suggesting pain reduction. Other
In Europe, balneotherapy (off ered at Italy’s Terme Merano, above), is part of the national health system
existing research also prove effectiveness in treating rheumatic diseases and pso- riasis. Furthermore, many benefi ts come from massage and exercise therapies. The spa industry should create a database of existing studies to demonstrate that a body of evidence already exists and to confi rm the effectiveness treatments. However, I think the need for more sci- entifi c investigation validating spa therapy
is very timely. And I fully agree that the industry should pool resources to support future research. This is an opportune time when patients are seeking alternative, evi- dence-based methods to heal and improve health. So-called integrative medicine and medical spa practices should be the places where evidence-based spa treat- ments are being delivered as credibly as mainstream medical practices.
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