BALNEOLOGY

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BALNEOLOGY

• IMPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

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INTRODUCTION

• Balneology/Hydrotherapy is a common medical and
  often non medical practice
• Within the majority of European countries this
  activity is linked to PRM
• So we must look for this reality and decide which
  aspects should concern our speciality institutions

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How ?

• First of all it is necessary to separate medical
  from non medical balneology
• This is also a matter of law as it deals with
  aspects such as competence, ethics and
  professional or legal responsibility
• It links also with the definition of medical
  act that is now under discussion in many of our
  countries.

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Balneology in PRM- 1

• The second point of discussion is
• - Is balneology within the PRM speciality? -
  Is it a part of our activity?
• Balneology is useful in all aspects of
  prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of
  impairments, disabilities and in enhancing of
  activities and participation.

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Balneology and PRM- 2

• All the aspects pointed yesterday by Prof. C.
  Gutenbrunner should be taken in consideration
  (questions as balneology as a speciality, a
  competence, overlaping with other specialities)
• Besides that we must think that hydrotherapy has
  been traditionaly used as an important tool of
  our practice

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BALNEOLOGY AND THE ICF MODEL

• balneology is additionaly an holistic health
  treatment as it may be a kind of behavioural
  therapy (control of risk factors for instance)
• This can be seen as an environmental factor a
  within the ICF model
• There is now some evidence that Health Resorts
  have the same benefits as environmental factors
  in the functional outcomes in Rehabilitation
  Programmes

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SO, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

1. Create an international glossary to define PRM
   terms in Balneology pratice.
2. Defining competencies in different aspects of
   balneology
3. Create curriculum and education programmes

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Other strategies

• Participate with medical groups working on these
  goals (ISMH - Prof T Bender, President - Prof C
  Gutenbrunner- Vice President)
• Join this discussion!
• Participate in educational initiatives
• Participatie in the process of accreditation of
  Balneology facilities , as some claim to be
  rehabilitation units.

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PROPOSAL

• A UEMS PRM Section STATEMENT concerning
  hydrotherapy and balneology

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STATEMENT

• The UEMS PRM Section recognizes the importance of
  Hydrotherapy, Balneology and Climatology in PRM
  practice
• Evidence based data is now growing in Balneology
• More research is needed
• The UEMS PRM Section promotes good clinical
  practice in PRM activities.
• Create a Working Group on Balneology within the
  Professional Affairs Committee
• Work with ISMH
• Define taxonomy
• Advise on science and education initiatives