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Treatments

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Treatments

Balneology — or balneotherapy — is the field of medicine that deals with the therapeutic use of medicinal waters, healing muds, and natural gases. Balneotherapy is used for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation alike.

The beneficial effects of thermal water arise partly from its physical properties and partly from the chemical characteristics of the dissolved minerals. The most common forms of balneotherapy include therapeutic bathing, drinking cures, and inhalation therapy.

At our Medical Spa, certified medicinal water forms the basis of our treatments, which we primarily provide in the form of balneotherapy. Thermal bathing has holistic effects on the entire body, so it is always important to consider the patient’s overall health condition.

Please note that in certain health conditions (identified during medical examination), thermal-water treatments may not be recommended. We kindly ask you to consult your doctor or the spa physician before beginning any course of therapeutic treatments.

Balneotherapy treatments

Thermal water pool therapy

The medicinal water of the Széchenyi Bath is a calcium–magnesium–hydrogen carbonate and sulphate thermal water containing sodium, and it also includes significant amounts of fluoride and metaboric acid. Its chemical composition, temperature, and physical properties (buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, and the effects of warm water) collectively have a beneficial impact on the body. Warm water causes the blood vessels to dilate, enhances circulation, improves tissue metabolism, relaxes the muscles, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, while increasing cardiac performance.

Thermal water also has a balancing effect on the hormonal system, stimulates the body’s natural endorphin production, and strengthens the immune system.
When used as a course of treatment (10–15 sessions), it can positively influence blood sugar, cholesterol, and inflammatory markers, and it has antioxidant effects by reducing harmful free radicals. Resting in warm water lowers stress hormone levels, promotes relaxation, and improves overall wellbeing. (More information under the Prevention menu.)

Recommended bathing time: 20 minutes, after which the treatment can be repeated following a short rest.

Thermal water tub bath

If, for personal reasons, a guest is unable to use the thermal-water pools, the same therapeutic effect can be enjoyed in a private single-person tub bath.

Recommended bathing time: 20 minutes

Mud pack

At the Széchenyi Bath, we use inorganic medicinal mud from Kolop. It is completely odourless, smooth in texture, evenly distributed, plastic, has excellent heat-retention capacity, does not clump, and can be easily washed off the skin after use.

Thanks to its ability to retain heat, the mud keeps the treated body area warm for an extended period. The tiny particles within the mud penetrate the small depressions of the skin, creating a significant abrasive effect. Through reflex responses, this not only affects the skin but also activates the functions of internal organs. It improves tissue circulation, supports metabolism, effectively relaxes the muscles, and increases the stretchability of the joint capsule and ligaments. Additionally, the chemical substances that penetrate through the skin also contribute to the therapeutic effect.

Duration of treatment: 20 minutes

Traction bath

The development and introduction of underwater traction (stretching) as a physiotherapeutic method is linked to the Hungarian rheumatologist Károly Moll from Hévíz. The aim of the treatment is the gentle stretching and decompression of the spine and joints, thereby relieving the pressure on nerves exiting the spinal canal, reducing the tone of the paraspinal muscles, alleviating pain, and improving mobility.

During the treatment, the patient is positioned in pleasantly warm medicinal water with one-, two-, or three-point suspension, while gentle, controlled traction is applied using special weights. The combination of water buoyancy and weights allows the vertebrae and joints to separate safely and without muscular tension along the entire spine. This effect also extends to the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Thanks to the offloading of gravity, the metabolism of the intervertebral discs and major joint cartilage improves, promoting their regeneration and healthy function.
This treatment may only be performed upon specialist instruction.

Recommended duration: 15 minutes

Carbonated bath

The carbonated bath is a special therapeutic treatment performed in a medical tub filled with medicinal water enriched with carbon dioxide. The tiny CO₂ bubbles adhere gently to the skin, creating a micro-massage effect on the surface of the body, stimulating circulation and cellular metabolism.

Carbon dioxide causes the capillaries in the skin to dilate, thereby improving peripheral circulation, lowering blood pressure, normalising heart rate, and increasing the body's oxygen supply. Its vasodilating effect also extends to the coronary arteries, enhancing the heart’s workload capacity and supporting overall regeneration. Although the water temperature in the bath is relatively low, the carbon dioxide stimulates the skin’s warm receptors, creating a pleasantly warm sensation.

This treatment is particularly important in any form of vascular constriction.

The treatment is carried out under the supervision of a trained therapeutic masseur.

Duration of treatment: 15 minutes

Medical therapeutic massage

This is one of the most well-known and popular therapies among our patients. Its purpose is to relieve musculoskeletal complaints, release muscle tension, and support regeneration. The treatment is performed by a qualified therapeutic masseur upon medical recommendation, tailored to the patient’s individual condition.

During the massage, specific techniques and manual methods are applied, which increase blood circulation and consequently reduce pain. Locally, it improves the skin’s regeneration, tone, and elasticity, making it more resilient to external effects. It also brings significant changes within the muscle tissue by increasing blood flow, releasing muscle knots, enhancing muscle performance, reducing muscle soreness, and eliminating feelings of fatigue.

By loosening the muscles and connective tissues surrounding the joints, massage increases joint range of motion. It also positively affects the function of the endocrine glands, accelerates lymphatic circulation, and enhances cellular metabolism, promoting cell regeneration.

Duration of treatment: 20–40 minutes

Underwater jet massage

Underwater jet massage is performed in a special medical tub in which the guest’s entire body — except for the head — is submerged. During the treatment, the therapeutic masseur follows a specific protocol, massaging the body with a controlled, pressurised underwater jet. As a result, the effects of both the water and the jet massage are combined.

With circular movements of the applicator, the water jet presses into the skin and, as it moves along, reactive hyperaemia (increased blood flow) develops once the pressure is released. The enhanced circulation improves the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the tissues, promoting cellular metabolism. Its vasodilating effect reduces muscle tension and muscle tone. Underwater jet massage also loosens muscle adhesions, thereby increasing joint mobility. It provides a painless yet deeply effective massage.

Duration of treatment: 15 minutes

Underwater physiotherapy

Underwater physiotherapy is carried out in thermal water of an indifferent temperature (35–36°C). Because water surrounds the immersed body, its pressure and warmth stimulate pressure receptors and thermoreceptors, activating biochemical processes that support regeneration. Thanks to buoyancy, water temperature, and hydrostatic pressure on the skin, the muscles relax. The reduced effective body weight in water unloads the joints, making movement easier and freer. This is particularly beneficial in cases of joint degeneration, spinal disorders, post-operative rehabilitation, or chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Venous return and lymphatic circulation also improve.

At the same time, the water provides natural resistance, making it excellent for strengthening muscles and improving overall physical condition.

Underwater physiotherapy is recommended for all musculoskeletal conditions. For older patients, it helps maintain mobility, while for those living with excess weight it offers a comfortable way to begin regular exercise.

Based on our experience, regular participation brings gradual yet lasting results: reduced pain, improved mobility, and a renewed enjoyment of movement.

Recommended duration: 25 minutes

Physiotherapy treatments

Dry physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is carried out under the guidance of a trained specialist. The process begins with a detailed consultation and an assessment of the patient’s current condition, which forms the basis of a personalised therapeutic plan. The individual exercise programme led by the physiotherapist targets not only the affected body part but the entire movement chain. This comprehensive approach stimulates circulation, improves the nutrient supply to muscles and joints, and enhances the body’s regenerative capacity. As a result, posture, muscle balance, and movement coordination are restored, helping to prevent the recurrence of pain in the long term.

The regular benefits of physiotherapy include:

  • increased muscle strength
  • improved range of motion
  • restored joint flexibility
  • enhanced balance, coordination, and endurance
  • stimulated circulation and metabolism

In addition, movement has significant psychological benefits: it reduces tension, boosts vitality, and often helps patients regain confidence lost due to pain or limited mobility. The best results are achieved as part of a structured treatment programme, ideally in a therapeutic spa environment and under the supervision of a physiotherapist. If needed — based on medical consultation — the therapy can be continued in thermal water, where buoyancy and the muscle-relaxing effect of warm water make movement even more effective.

Physiotherapy is suitable and effective for nearly all musculoskeletal conditions, except in cases involving acute inflammation or fever.

Duration of each session: 25 minutes

McKenzie therapy

The McKenzie Method is a specialised movement-based therapy used for treating various spine-related problems (e.g. disc bulging, herniated disc), as well as arm- or leg-radiating pain and numbness.

During the first session, the physiotherapist assesses the problem by asking about symptoms, observing which movements increase or reduce pain, and examining mobility in different positions. Based on this assessment, a personalised exercise programme is created — one that must be performed regularly at home or even at work.

The method requires strong self-discipline and active participation from the patient, but it offers a significant opportunity: McKenzie therapy teaches the patient how to relieve their own pain and how to prevent its recurrence.

Physical therapy treatments

Physical therapy involves healing with natural energy forms, which are artificially generated in modern medicine. The main tools of physical therapy include electrotherapy, mechanotherapy, and phototherapy. Physical therapy has both local and general effects. Its pain-relieving and local anti-inflammatory properties have a highly positive impact on the patient’s condition. These treatments improve the blood supply to the tissues, thereby enhancing cellular metabolic processes. Various physical therapy methods are effective for relieving muscle spasms caused by increased muscle tone, improving restricted joint range of motion, and addressing reduced nerve excitability.

To achieve the desired effect, treatments must be applied as a course — usually consisting of 10 sessions per treatment type. Based on medical history and symptoms, rheumatology specialists recommend personalised physical therapy methods tailored to the patient’s needs. These therapies are most often used in combination, further increasing their effectiveness.

  • The oldest form of electrotherapy is galvanic treatment. By adjusting the direction of the current and the placement of the electrodes, various therapeutic effects can be achieved. This type of current is often used to deliver the active ingredients of medications or ointments into the body — a technique known as iontophoresis.
  • Iontophoresis: With this method, a medicinal solution is delivered into the body. The electrodes are placed so that they surround the affected area. Under the influence of electric current, the solution breaks down into ions, which can then be directed into the tissues by correctly positioning the electrodes.
  • Diadynamic current: This method combines galvanic and stimulating currents. By alternating different forms of stimulation current, various sensations and therapeutic effects can be produced. The patient may feel a wave-like, pulsating, or vibrating current. Its effects include pain relief, normalising muscle tone, and promoting the absorption of oedema.
  • Selective stimulation current: This is used to treat peripheral nerve paralysis or muscles that are intact in innervation but have become atrophied. During treatment, a visible contraction is expected in the treated muscle or in the muscle innervated by the treated nerve — this is how we activate and support the healing of affected muscles. It is commonly used for the foot-lifting muscles or the quadriceps, and can also be applied in cases of facial nerve paralysis. In peripheral nerve paralysis, it is important to start treatment as early as possible, as the chance of nerve regeneration decreases with time.
  • Interference therapy: This treatment is named after the way the electrical circuits cross each other, amplifying each other's effects — they interfere. It has pain-relieving, muscle-relaxing, and vasodilating effects. As a medium-frequency current, it overcomes the resistance of the skin and reaches deeper tissues without causing discomfort.
  • TENS: This acronym stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. It is primarily used for pain relief.

Ultrasound is a sound wave that produces physical, biological, and chemical effects in the treated area. As a mechanical stimulus, ultrasound causes the tissues to vibrate, creating a micromassage effect. The absorbed energy is converted into heat. As a result of these effects, vasodilation occurs, local blood circulation increases, and the treated area becomes warmed and relaxed. Ultrasound is an excellent pain-relieving and muscle-relaxing therapy. It enhances the oxygen supply to the treated tissues, thereby improving the healing process. It is highly effective in dispersing painful muscle knots. To allow the ultrasound waves to penetrate the tissues, an ultrasound gel is always applied to the treated area.

When an anti-inflammatory cream is used as the conductive medium, the procedure is called sonophoresis, which enhances the absorption of the medication into the tissues.

For underwater ultrasound, the hand or foot is placed in a plastic basin filled with water. Due to the anatomical characteristics of the small joints of the hands and/or feet, water is used as the conducting medium for optimal transmission of the ultrasound waves.

In the past, pain affecting the sciatic nerve or the nerves of the arm was often treated with the Kowarschik galvanic method, in which the electrode extended along the entire length of the limb. This was useful because nerve compression in the cervical or lumbar spine frequently causes pain or numbness radiating along the full length of the arm or leg.

Today, a highly effective and simpler method — offering the same therapeutic benefits — is the combination of ultrasound with interference current applied to the affected limb.

Soft laser therapy: A modern, painless physiotherapy treatment that uses light energy with specific properties to stimulate cellular activity and accelerate healing processes. Light-sensitive molecules within the cells absorb the laser beam, which enhances metabolism and promotes cell regeneration. The treatment improves blood and lymphatic circulation, stimulates the formation of new blood vessels, reduces inflammation and pain, and supports the functioning of the immune system. It is also suitable for reducing minor joint effusions. Soft laser therapy can be safely used alongside prostheses and pacemakers, making it widely applicable for treating various musculoskeletal problems.

  • Magnetotherapy uses a low-frequency pulsed magnetic field that produces beneficial effects such as vasodilation, improved microcirculation, enhanced lymphatic flow, and stimulation of the immune system. The magnetic field influences the electrical charge and ion flow within cells, thereby promoting cell regeneration and tissue healing. As microcirculation improves, inflammation and pain decrease, and the regeneration of bone and muscle tissue is accelerated. It is a painless, safe treatment that effectively supports the recovery of joint, muscle, and bone-related complaints, as well as circulatory disorders. The applicators may take the form of a ring, cushion, or mattress.
  • BEMER therapy is a specialised form of magnetotherapy. While lying on a mattress, pulsed electromagnetic signals improve microcirculation, increasing the oxygen and nutrient supply to the cells. It supports regeneration, reduces pain and inflammation, and enhances immune system function.

Contraindications

The contraindications listed below are for informational purposes only. Treatments may only be used based on medical recommendation.

General contraindications for thermal bathing:

  • Heart and circulatory diseases: within six months after a heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure not responding to medication
  • Phlebitis (vein inflammation)
  • Overactive thyroid
  • Epilepsy, multiple sclerosis
  • Inflammatory phase of musculoskeletal diseases
  • Incontinence (partial or complete loss of bowel or bladder control)
  • Bleeding disorders, use of blood thinners, menstruation
  • Malignant diseases within 5 years, and after that only with individual medical assessment
  • Infectious diseases
  • Open wounds, injuries, infectious skin diseases
  • Fever
  • Pregnancy

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