Combining thalassotherapy and exercise for people with respiratory diseases

Thalassotherapy embraces various therapeutic methods, such as climatotherapy, heliotherapy, balneotherapy, psammotherapy and peloid therapy.Thalassotherapy can also be associated with physical exercise, embracing a broader view of physical fitness. Although the effects of thalassotherapy on the musculoskeletal system are well known, its use for the treatment of respiratory diseases is less established. Mechanics of healing could be related to an increase in peripheral vasodilation, improving blood supply and transcapillary exchange, and reabsorption of exudates, resulting in reduced bronchial oedema. Motor and respiratory exercises are a consolidated therapeutic approach for people with respiratory diseases at different stages of the illness, and there is a large consensus regarding their efficacy. There are more opportunitiesn to combine thalassotherapy and physical and respiratory exercise, even for those with respiratory diseases, depending on the disease phase, as these are two symbiotic therapeutic modalities. In fact, the beneficial effects of mobilisation and respiratory exercise in acute respiratory conditions promote and expedite the therapeutic journey of patients, even in critical settings . Exercise and specialised treatments in thalassotherapy environments could be considered a viable option to promote new therapeutic pathways for patients with conditions that are not treated in respiratory settings and experience frequent exacerbations, such as those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchiectasis or pulmonary fibrosis. Additional research should be carried out to identify which patients would most benefit from such approaches.