Abstract
Objective:
To assess the effectiveness of regular hydrotherapy in primary varicose veins.
Design:
Randomized, single blind, prospective, controlled trial.
Setting:
Social security system related rehabilitation center for employees (nationwide assignment of inpatients).
Patients:
122 patients with primary varicose veins.
Interventions:
Group A (n=60) received daily treatments during 24 days that consisted of external application of alternating cold and warm water to both lower extremities. Group B (n=62) served as controls and was not treated with hydrotherapy. Both groups were comparable in terms of concomitant diseases and treatments.
Main outcome measures:
Foot volume, ankle circumference and venous re-fill time, using light reflex rheo-graphy, served as objective variables, while a number of typical symptoms were recorded as subjective parameters.
Results:
A more pronounced improvement in all objective signs in group A compared to B was observed. Four out of seven subjective symptoms improved more frequently in group A than in B.
Conclusions:
Hydrotherapy is effective in treating primary varicose veins. It can be considered as an adjunct measure to compression therapy and other conservative treatments.
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