Water quality plays an important role for every sustainable social and economic system, as well as for maintaining human health. This study, carried out during 2022–2023, has as its main objective the physical–chemical and microbiological analysis of some underground water resources (two boreholes and a spring) with a natural mineral load from three areas in Bihor County (Romania), and the impact of their consumption on people’s health. Therefore, six microbiological parameters and 17 physical–chemical indicators in three localities (Tămășeu, Sîntimreu, Pădurea Neagră) were analyzed. The results of the microbiological analysis indicate a type of water that respects the limits imposed by the legislation on natural mineral waters and potability. The physical–chemical indicators show that the hydrochemical type of the studied waters is predominantly bicarbonate, in association with calcium, magnesium, and sodium cations. The residents’ perception on water quality and the effect on people’s health was assessed through a questionnaire (23 items) addressed to the population of the three villages and neighboring localities. The results showed that the mineral waters from Sîntimreu and Pădurea Neagră are used frequently. Many respondents consider the local mineral waters as without quality-related problems and with beneficial effects regarding acute or chronic gastrointestinal conditions, such as gastritis, gastric ulcers, flatulence, or liver diseases.

This study aims to analyse the development of the balneological phenomenon in Bihor County generated by its administration, consequent of which, a classification of rural settlements and new tourist resorts has been made. The objective is to identify the current trend in the exploitation of the balneological potential of the localities in Bihor County. A comparative analysis has also been carried out between the influence of the political regimes on the exploitation of geothermal water sources at the level of rural settlements and new tourist resorts during the last five decades. The comparative analysis has revealed that the development of the balneological phenomenon has been carried out sequentially. This sequence has been influenced by the political environment and the administrative factor from the period before and after the Revolution. In the period before the Revolution, all balneological sources were managed by the public administrative factor; they were maintained and kept functional, until the Revolution of 1989, against the background of a stable political environment. In the post-Revolution period, when the decision and involvement was sometimes undertaken on a small scale (private administration), and where the interest in development was focused exclusively on the valorisation of the balneological resources, it can be said that capitalist policy favourably influenced the evolution of the balneological phenomenon at the level of rural settlements and new tourist resorts. We have concluded that the capitalist period has been favourable because, when the thermal baths were found to be unanimously managed by the public administration, they were functional in greater numbers at the rural level as compared to the post-revolutionary period. We have not analysed any “policy” documents in order to make this statement.

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 2-week rehabilitation program consisting of electrotherapy, physical therapy, and balneotherapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA); (2) Methods: A total of 98 patients were enrolled in the study and assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The primary outcome measures were pain intensity and knee function scores, while secondary outcomes included functional tests such as the 30s chair stand test, stair climbing test, and 40-meter walk test; (3) Results: Results showed significant improvements in pain intensity, knee function scores, and the 30s chair stand test in both groups. However, the experimental group showed more significant improvement in the 40-meter walk test than the control group. Linear Model ANOVA test showed that after the 2-week treatment, participants receiving balneotherapy showed significant progress compared to the control group in pain intensity, knee function scores, and walking test. The results for the stair climbing test did not differ significantly between the two groups, but it improved in both; (4) Conclusions: Study findings suggest that a rehabilitation program consisting of electrotherapy, physical therapy, and balneotherapy can show significant improvement in regards to pain and function in patients with KOA.

Due to the existence of important thermal water resources, in Bihor County there are many locations where thermo-mineral waters are used for bathing or for leisure. In this study, we focus on the spas in Bihor County (Băile Felix, Băile 1 Mai, Băile Tinca, Stâna de Vale, to which we add the village of Sarcău), where these waters have been used for a long time and which have the necessary infrastructure for therapy. Thus, we aim to highlight the particularities of these waters, the presentation of the balneotherapy procedures used and the emphasis on the beneficial effects of balneotherapy on osteoarthritis (most of the pathologies treated here are osteoarthritis). In the spa treatment bases, along with thermal water, other procedures are used that enhance the effect of these waters (physiotherapy, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), TCARE (capacitive and resistive electrical transfer), therapeutic massage, lymphatic drainage massage, ultrasound, electrotherapy, low frequency electromagnetic pulse therapy, galvanic baths, paraffin wraps, laser therapy). The main pathologies treated by the mentioned procedures are inflammatory rheumatic diseases, neuromuscular diseases.