HYDROTHERAPY FOR VARICOSE-VEINS - A RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED TRIAL

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 in-patients). 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 rheography, 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.