The capital of Polish balneology

Polish Spa and Health Resorts are part of the national heritage and a world-known brand. They represent the oldest area of medicine, which developed over centuries, tested by progressing medical sciences.

Contemporary Spa Medicine combines selected, superior, evidence-based traditional methods with novel modalities and technologies. It uses its non-pharmacological armamentarium to address both prevention and treatment of chronic conditions. Spa Resorts play a major role in the treatment of chronic diseases, which remain the greatest challenge and generate the highest costs. Spa Resorts have a positive impact on health and quality of life, reducing costs of clinical treatment of chronically ill patients.

Preventive medicine is of great public importance as it can help protect state budgets from collapse caused by the dynamically growing costs of curative medicine. Spa resort treatment in Poland has a tremendous potential, which should be exploited for preventive programs. Balneoprophylaxis (Spa Resort prophylaxis) can prevent disease; slow down the progression of illnesses and their complications; slow down the aging process in the elderly; and reduce stress levels. Spa Resort diagnostic facilities allow for identification of risk factors of disease. Spa Resort healthcare institutions must develop and grow to meet the needs of an aging population with its growing burden of chronic diseases. Spa Resort Healthcare offers methods which are both effective and easily accessible. Balneologic treatments have the great advantage of being non-invasive and free of side effects.

Alongside healthcare services, the resorts feature an ever-growing spa-and-wellness offer in local hotels. These amenities target a different clientele: the healthy, weary and well-to-do. Such services offered in spa resorts should not be linked to, let alone confused with Spa Resort Healthcare.

Prof. Irena Ponikowska, MD, PhD

Overview of balneological procedures at the
Spa House in Ciechocinek

PHYSICAL THERAPY (a subdiscipline of Physiotherapy).

Treatments are effected with physical stimuli:

• electric current (of low, medium and high frequency)
• heat and cold
• light (quartz, infra-red, Bio-V lamps)
• ultrasound
• magnetic fields

Indications for treatment:

• neuralgic pain, subacute and chronic inflammation of soft tissues, skin and joints
• trauma injuries of joints and soft tissues
• rheumatic conditions
• pain syndromes in degenerative diseases, painful shoulder syndrome, sciatic neuralgia
• neuropathies, peripheral neuritis
• spastic and flaccid paresis
• trauma injuries
• heel spurs

MASSAGE  – a physiotherapeutic procedure performed manually (classic and lymphatic massage), with the use of a device (Aquavibron, BOA™ pneumatic massage) or in water (underwater massage, hydromassage, whirlpool massage).

Such procedures cause:

• improvement of local circulation,
• relaxation of muscles,
• alleviation of tension and pain,
• increased lymphatic drainage.

Indications for treatment:

• neuralgic pain,
• scars,
• pain in degenerative and posttraumatic conditions,
• chronic spinal pain syndromes, contractures of muscles, ligaments and tendons, muscular palsy and paresis, stress, overwork, fatigue.

KINESIOTHERAPY – an important element of rehabilitation.

Procedures included under the heading of kinesiotherapy involve individual, group and manual exercises; exercises with the use of suspension and/or other devices; ambulation training, Nordic walking.

Performing of exercises has important effects on the following:

• joints – helping preserve full range of motion, elasticity and flexibility of joint surfaces, joint capsules and ligaments
• muscles – improving flexibility and length of muscle fibres, increasing muscle strength, mass and endurance
• nervous system – improving neuro-muscular co-ordination, bettering transmission of nervous signals, enhancing nervous responsiveness
• vascular system – enhancing the function of peripheral vessels (better blood drainage from veins to the heart, better arterial blood supply to peripheral body parts), as well as coronary (heart) and cerebral (brain) vessels
• preserving normal body mass

Indications for treatment:

• osteoarthritis,
• rheumatic conditions,
• neurologic conditions,
• metabolic conditions,
• cardiovascular and respiratory conditions,
• post-traumatic and post-operative conditions.