The role of mud therapy and thermal wellness in the recovery of female and male athletes
09.10.2025
The Pietro d'Abano Thermal Studies Centre, in collaboration with the Department of Developmental Psychology at the University of Padua, has launched a research project aimed at exploring the effects of mud therapy and thermal treatments on the psychological well-being and stress management of athletes.The gathering of the National Sports Centre of the Fiamme Oro - Athletics Division, held at the Euganean Thermal Baths, provided an opportunity to evaluate the benefits of these treatments.
During the gathering, the athletes participated in an introductory meeting on thermalism and underwent medical examinations and mud therapy treatments. The research project aims to observe changes in perceived stress, mood tone, and anxiety during the thermal stay, using physiological measures and self-assessment questionnaires.
Fabrizio Caldara, director of the Thermal Studies Centre, emphasised the importance of better understanding the role of thermal treatments in improving the well-being of athletes, highlighting that the collected data could form the basis for future studies and the optimisation of replicable protocols.
"The initiative will offer the possibility to explore the interaction between subjective sensations and the body's responses to predetermined stimuli," he explained. The goal is to better understand the role and impact of treatments and the stay at the thermal baths in enhancing the well-being of high-level athletes. The pilot project will provide important preliminary data, which could form the basis for future longitudinal studies and the optimisation of replicable protocols in other editions. Through physiological measures and functional tests, any effects of thermal treatments on autonomic functionality and cognitive reactivity will be evaluated.
Irene Leo, a lecturer at the Department of Developmental Psychology, emphasised how mental recovery is fundamental for high-level athletes, who are subjected to strong cognitive and emotional tensions.
The project, initiated by Federalberghi Terme Abano Montegrotto and the Thermal Studies Centre, involves various local entities, including the municipalities of Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme, the Veneto Terme Colli Marketing Consortium, and the Tourist Destination Management Organisation. The collaboration with the Fiamme Oro offers a valuable opportunity to combine sporting excellence and scientific research, opening new perspectives on the role of thermalism in supporting athletes.
