Recovery after a sports injury – natural rehabilitation powered by thermal waters

At the accident and emergency department she was examined, prescribed a topical cream and an ankle brace, and advised to rest the joint for at least 1–2 months. This was particularly challenging for her, as movement and sport are an essential part of her life. She was eager to find treatments that could support and speed up her recovery.

Injuries such as sprains, bruises, or partial ligament tears typically involve significant swelling, pain and restricted movement. When surgery is not required, conservative therapy remains the primary approach – something our medical spa can provide in a fully comprehensive manner.

As a result of the mechanical impact, a sterile inflammatory reaction develops, causing pronounced oedema (swelling), pain and considerable limitation of the range of motion. Since this is a lower-limb joint, proper rest is only achievable through lying down; every step places body weight on the injured ankle, slowing the healing process. Although spontaneous recovery usually takes 6–8 weeks, this period can be significantly shortened with our balneotherapy treatments.

Thermal water combined with a 25-minute supervised exercise session (underwater physiotherapy) exerts a complex therapeutic effect. The natural hydrostatic pressure of the water helps reduce the oedema. Spending 50 minutes daily in medicinal water increases the number of immune cells, further accelerating healing. Low-level laser therapy was also essential in this case: as a specialised light source it activates photosensitive molecules inside the cells, restoring the metabolic processes within the injured joint. Biologically this results in reduced inflammation, pain and swelling. This was complemented with medical massage.

Our patient responded extremely well to the treatments: after 10 days her swelling and pain had reduced by half.