The Effect of Cold-Water Hydrotherapy According to Sebastian Kneipp for Immune Stimulation: A Nonrandomized,Controlled,Explorative,Mixed-Methods Clinical Study

Abstract

Highlights

Home-based hydrotherapy leads to fewer missed kindergarten-days in total.

In the application group, more fever days could be registered.

Hydrotherapy, according to the hormesis principle by Sebastian Kneipp, aims to reduce infections of the lower respiratory tract.

Parents participation motivated by increase in applicable health knowledge for their children.

Objectives:

This study investigates the effect of cold-water hydrotherapy stimulation according to the hormesis principle by Sebastian Kneipp on the number of missing kindergarten-days, fever days, and respiratory tract infections in children aged 3–6 years.

Study design:

A nonrandomized, controlled, explorative, mixed-methods clinical study.

Intervention:

The hydrotherapeutic intervention treated children aged 3–6 years with Kneipp arm affusions over 6 weeks. The control group received no intervention. Number of missed kindergarten-days, fever days, and respiratory tract infections were assessed by means of a digital diary. Through a self-developed structured questionnaire, sociodemographic data of both groups were compared and reason for participation in the study was recorded and qualitatively evaluated.

Results:

Twenty children participants and their parents in the intervention group and 18 in the control group were evaluated. The intervention was conducted at home by the parents. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the groups but still showed intermediate effect sizes (indicating an underpowered study). These effect sizes point to a potentially lower proportion of children in the application group versus the control group with missed kindergarten-days in total (d = 0.67), days missed due to fever (d = 0.29), and infections of the lower respiratory tract (d = 0.60). In a future study, these parameters will thus serve as promising factors for evaluation. Parent's stated reasons for participation interest were to improve health, increase their own health knowledge, and because of their interest in alternative therapies and to support research.

Conclusions:

Cold-water hydrotherapy stimulation, according to the hormesis principle by Sebastian Kneipp, did reduce the number of days absent in kindergarten in total in the intervention group and lower respiratory tract infections occurred less frequently. Parent’ participation interest demonstrated a desire to increase health literacy and implement this with their own children. Due to the small sample size, the results should be interpreted cautiously.

Clinical Trial Registration Number:

German Register of Clinical Trials (DRKS): ID 00017562.