Spa doctor

A spa therapist is a specialist with a higher medical education who studies the effects of natural environmental factors on the human body.

Since ancient times, resorts were available to the upper classes, where people could relax, have fun and create, let's call it, clubs of interest. Such places were not available to ordinary people, and getting there was extremely difficult and very fashionable. After some time, namely after the Great October Revolution, in the countries of the Soviet Union, the government began to care about the health of the working class and such resorts became available to almost everyone. They began to receive not only relaxation from hard working days, but also to treat chronic diseases, as well as to prevent diseases and improve overall immunity. It was at that time that the need arose to create a special science, which was called very simply - balneology (from two words: resort - the direct meaning of the word and -logy - science). Balneology is a science that studies the effect of various physical natural properties on the body as a whole and on specific human diseases. Doctors in this field are called balneologists.

Who is a spa therapist?

A spa therapist develops an individual treatment plan for a patient or makes a plan of preventive procedures to restore the patient's health. Spa therapists usually work at various research institutes that study the properties and effects of natural resources on humans.

One of the very first research institutes in the USSR was the Central Institute of Balneology named after N.A. Semashko. In Ukraine, such a research institute is located in Odessa and it studies balneology and physical rehabilitation.

When should you see a spa specialist?

You should contact a balneologist when prescribing a rehabilitation complex of measures after surgeries, acute diseases, as well as the presence of chronic sluggish diseases. It is also advisable to consult this specialist when planning a therapeutic vacation, since he or she can assess whether a particular climate is suitable for you personally.

What tests should you take when visiting a spa specialist?

When visiting a balneologist on a planned basis, it is advisable to undergo a comprehensive planned examination for diseases in the acute period. Commonly accepted studies include:

• general blood test;
• biochemical blood test;
• general urine analysis;
• ultrasound diagnostics of abdominal organs;
• x-ray of the lungs;
• ECG of the heart;
• consultation with a gynecologist (for women), urologist (for men);
• consultation with the attending physician.

When determining the presence of diseases in the acute and subacute period, you should first contact a specialist in a narrow profile to prescribe treatment. After complete recovery, you can contact a balneologist.

What diagnostic methods does a balneologist use?

In addition to the main diagnostic methods, namely:

• laboratory testing of blood and urine;
• ultrasound examination of organs;
• X-ray examination of organs;
• electrocardiography of the heart rhythm.

The spa doctor conducts additional studies, such as:

• bicycle ergometry/ergospirometry (analysis of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide emission by the patient during active physical activity);
• spirography (analysis of the patient's respiratory system);
• Doppler flowmetry (assessment of the effectiveness of the blood microcirculatory bed);
• Holter cardiac monitoring (evaluation of heart function to detect hidden arrhythmias);
• electroencephalography (study of brain function);
• electromyoneurography (assessment of muscle function in response to neurological stimuli);
• stabilography (assessment of the functioning of the vestibular apparatus).

Thanks to these diagnostic methods, a spa doctor can select the most accurate medical institution for the correction of a particular disease, as well as give recommendations on diet and physical activity.

What does a spa therapist do?

Balneology is a fairly broad science, and accordingly, there are narrower specializations of balneologists. The most basic sections of balneology can be considered:

• balneology;
• pleotherapy;
• climatology;
• physiotherapy.

Balneology is a special section in which spa doctors study the physical and chemical properties of mineral waters, as well as their effect on the human body. Thanks to this section of balneology, the most valuable natural sources were identified. These include mineral waters from the resorts of Essentuki, Mirgorod, Morshin, Borjomi, Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Truskavets, Zheleznogorsk and many others. Mineral waters are used to treat gastrointestinal tract diseases, chronic liver and kidney diseases, as well as some endocrine diseases. It is the spa doctor who knows which types of mineral water are best to take for a particular disease.

Pleotherapy or mud therapy is a very important section in which spa doctors study the effect of therapeutic mud on the skin, internal organs and the body as a whole. Mud therapy is used to treat a large number of diseases, namely problems with the musculoskeletal system, burns or frostbite, neurological disorders, skin diseases and many others. In this case, the application method is used for individual parts of the body (feet, legs, hands, arms, neck, back) or the whole body. Mud therapy is also used in gynecology and urology for the treatment of female and male infertility. The main resorts that specialize in pleotherapy include: Saki, Odessa estuaries, mud baths in Slavyansk, Lipetsk and other cities.

Climatotherapy is a fundamental section in which spa doctors study the effect of the climatic conditions of resort regions on the human body. Climatic factors include: climate type, elevation above sea level, presence of the sea itself, air humidity and temperature, ultraviolet radiation and much more. For example, the sea climate of such resort areas as Crimea and Krasnodar Krai is ideal for treating the respiratory system. High-mountain resorts such as the Carpathians and the Caucasus will be ideal for increasing metabolism and treating endocrine diseases, as well as blood diseases.

Physiotherapy is a section, thanks to which spa doctors carry out a comprehensive impact on the human body. Physiotherapy can include therapeutic exercise, massage, the impact of various devices based on the action of fields (electric, magnetic, electromagnetic), vibrations (optical, mechanical), as well as taking special therapeutic baths, inhalations and much more. Physiotherapy is used in the complex treatment of various chronic diseases. A set of physiotherapeutic procedures is individually selected by a spa doctor based on the patient's medical history and additional studies.

What diseases does a spa doctor treat?

A spa specialist develops a set of measures that help cope with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, peptic ulcer, diabetes, cholelithiasis), respiratory system (asthma, chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis), genitourinary system (pyelonephritis, cystitis, inflammatory processes of the pelvic organs, infertility), musculoskeletal system (arthritis, osteoporosis, rheumatism), nervous system (neuropathy, strokes) and many others.

Advice from a spa doctor

Each organism has its own "resource". In order to avoid premature aging of the organism, do not neglect annual leave, using it to the maximum for the restoration of the organism. In order to use the healing properties of natural resources to the maximum, the course of treatment should be at least 14 days (ideally 21 days). During the course of treatment, it is necessary to follow a diet and moderate physical activity.

When planning a restorative holiday, it is best to consult a balneologist. He will be able to select a health resort not only in your area, but also abroad. Thus, the most famous health resorts in Europe are: Montecatini Terme (Italy), baths in Budapest (Hungary), Karlovy Vary and Frantiskovy Lazne (Czech Republic), Baden and Bad Ischl (Austria), Baden-Baden (Germany) and many others.

It is also important to remember that certain treatment methods are contraindicated for certain diseases. For example, contraindications to mud therapy include: oncological diseases, bleeding, skin diseases in the acute stage, some neurological and cardiac diseases, as well as pregnancy. Thalassotherapy is prohibited for certain thyroid diseases, increased estrogen levels in the blood in women, as well as an allergic reaction to ultraviolet radiation. Treatment in the mountains is not recommended for hypotensive patients, since the high sea level can lead to an even greater decrease in blood pressure.

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