Treatment of hip osteoarthritis at Széchenyi Thermal Bath

Her symptoms were characterised by nighttime pain radiating down to the knee.

During walking, each step places several times the body weight alternately on the hip joints. In a healthy joint, the cartilage covering the femoral head is gently compressed with every step, squeezing fluid out of the cartilage, which then reabsorbs during the unloading phase. This rhythmic exchange of fluid ensures proper lubrication and nutrition of the joint.

With advancing age, however, the water content of the cartilage decreases, its elasticity declines, and it becomes unable to fully regenerate. The cartilage gradually thins, develops small cracks and surface irregularities, and progressively loses its protective and lubricating function. Over time, the degenerative process also affects the bone beneath the cartilage, leading to reduced range of motion and pain during activity.

In our patient’s case, a restricted range of motion was detected in one direction of hip movement. This clearly indicated that the degenerative process had begun. (It is worth noting that hip osteoarthritis often presents as knee pain—just as our patient described—something that becomes evident during physical examination.)

We prescribed a combined treatment programme. The therapeutic thermal sitz bath was complemented with individual land-based physiotherapy and mud packs. Targeted exercises around the hip joint increased local blood circulation and helped remove stagnant fluid and metabolic waste products. The warm mud pack provided deep relaxation and circulation-enhancing effects. Owing to its excellent heat-retention capacity, the mud effectively loosens collagen-rich structures such as ligaments, the joint capsule and surrounding muscles.

With medical therapeutic massage, we were able to release painful muscle knots effectively.

Throughout the course, we placed special emphasis on patient education—offering guidance on movements to avoid, recommending beneficial daily activities, and preparing her for regular home exercises to maintain the achieved results.