Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2009 , Vol 55 , Num 2

Hydroclimatology-Balneotherapy Practices in Elderly Patients

Sami Hizmetli 1
1 Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Sivas, Türkiye

Progressive loss of biological productivity of the organism, difficulties in environmental compatibility and diminution in immune resistance mechanisms are what we call being old or elderliness. Today, elderliness and associated medical problems are observed as important social problems in both developed and developing countries. Therefore treatment of an old geriatric patient means a number of subsequent therapies varying from a nursing home with a geriatric program up to thermal cure centers and a large rehabilitation center. Thus various medical treatments administered in these centers, dietary interventions, exercise treatments applied together with physical therapy and a number of balneotherapy and hydrotherapy methods implemented in thermal cure centers are diminishing the disability ratios of the old geriatric patients and increasing their quality of life.  

Keywords : Elderliness, rehabilitation, balneotherapy