Chronobiology and Chronic Rheumatism : Effects of Radon-Balneotherapy and Melatonin Treatment within Chronic Arthrosis

The first part of the book introduces basic principles of chronobiology and forms of rheumatic diseases to the reader. In the second part, the results of a clinical trial are presented. The aim of this study was to determine, for the first time, the extent of circadian rhythm disturbances in patients suffering from degenerative joint diseases, namely chronic arthrosis. Biorhythmical entraining effects of the patients' physical and mental conditions were observed after a three-week radon-balneotherapy and complimentary Melatonin treatment in the Bad Gastein health spa which is situated in the Austrian alps.