Thermalism: 5 Things To Know About Post-covid Spa Treatments
More and more spas and thalassotherapy centers in France are adapting their cures for people who have been infected with Covid-19. Here are 5 things to know about post-Covid spa treatments.
1- They are particularly indicated in case of long Covid
While many Covid-infected patients present with the symptoms of a long Covid, thermal medicine may be one of the most appropriate responses to manage their symptoms.
Indeed, spa treatments are indicated to treat persistent fatigue, diffuse pain, and anxiety. They also contribute to recovery in cases of weight loss and loss of muscle strength.
Thermal water treatments are known to strengthen the body, help recover muscle strength and recover physical and moral well-being.
For all these reasons, a spa treatment is therefore a very beneficial interlude in case of long Covid, which is now considered a chronic disease.
Moreover, it should be noted that some curists were already going to the thermal baths of Molitg-les-Bains to facilitate their convalescence after other viral diseases such as influenza or shingles.
2- Several formulas from 6 to 18 days are proposed
To meet the needs of Covid patients, more and more thalassotherapy and spa centers in France are offering cures dedicated to post-Covid recovery.
Several formulas, not reimbursed by Social Security, are proposed.
If you do not wish to or cannot do a conventionally approved spa treatment, you can opt for a short treatment of 6 days on average. In this case, you will have to pay about €500 for a 6-day non-regulated spa treatment.
If you have planned to do an 18-day conventional cure for the respiratory tract or in dermatology (cure covered by the Health Insurance on prescription), you can ask to benefit from a complementary module oriented post Covid.
The specific post Covid rehabilitation module represents on average 300 € additional not covered by Medicare.
3- Each spa destination has its own speciality
The offer of post-Covid thermal cures has developed in France over the last few months.
You will therefore have the choice between several thermal centers in the different regions of France.
Note that each spa destination has its own specialty and offers cures with different objectives, including:
- relieving sore muscles and joints at Molitg-les-Bains in the Pyrénées-Orientales
- reducing shortness of breath and pain in Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc in Haute-Savoie
- promote recovery through respiratory rehabilitation at La Bourboule in the Puy-de-Dôme or at Enghien-les-Bains in the Paris region
- relieve the physical and psychological after-effects of the pandemic (phobia/stress and trauma) at the Saujon thermal baths
- offer a complete therapeutic education program including dietetics, adapted sports and moral support in Allevard and Brides-les-Bains
- a thalassotherapy cure under medical supervision at Banyuls-sur-Mer
4- The cure offers a welcome respite
Although thermal medicine is not the miracle solution for long Covid or persistent symptoms (such as loss of taste and smell, for example), the first patients who experienced post-Covid thermal cures found a welcome respite both physically and morally.
As with other indications, thermal medicine allows benefiting from follow-up by a team of professionals during the cure and sometimes beyond, as some thermal centers offer post-cure follow-up over several months.
Another advantage is that the treatment offer is generally personalized, with adapted physical activities and individual or group workshops, in addition to the traditional thermal water baths, showers and massages.
5- These new cures are the stars of the Thermalies show
Two years into the pandemic, post-Covid spa treatments are becoming more and more talked about, especially at the 2022 edition of the Thermalies trade show (see link below).
The Thermalies trade show was held from January 20 to 23, 2022 at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris and then from January 28 to 30, 2022 at Eurexpo in Lyon.
