Ergometric physical working capacity (PWC) testing has a long tradition in occupational medicine for assessing whether a sufficiently high level of physical performance for coping with the daily work requirements is given. Physical performance and stress resistance of the body are considered one of the main objects of influence of adaptogens. The stress-limiting effect of bioactive Naftussya water known. Data on the influence of Naftussya on the muscular performance are ambiguous. We set ourselves the goal of comparing balneotherapy-induced individual changes in PWC with changes in some parameters of the nervous and immune systems, as well as erythron, hemostasis, and metabolism. Material and methods. The object of observation were 19 men and 3 women (age 26÷61 years, body weight 78÷100 kg) with urate urolithiasis and chronic pyelonephritis. The survey was conducted twice: on admission and after two weeks of rehabilitation at the Truskavets’ Spa. Registered PWC150, parameters of HRV, EEG, immunity, phagocytosis, erythron, hemostasis and metabolism. Results. The analysis of individual changes revealed that in 45,5% patients reduced fitness was completely normalized, however, in 54,5% patients, the normal level of fitness fell to the lower zone of the norm. Discriminant analysis revealed 5 EEG parameters, VLF band HRV as well as plasma alanine aminotransferase and bactericidal capacity of monocytes of blood, the changes of which are characteristic (classification accuracy 100%) for alternative variants of actotropic effects of balneotherapy. Conclusion. The alternative response of fitness to balneofactors occurs within the framework of the functional-metabolic continuum and the neuro-immune complex. A decrease in fitness to the lower normal zone is accompanied by the normalization of the reduced bactericidal capacity of blood monocytes, so we interpret this decrease as a “physiological payment” for it.

Background. The impact of the standard balneotherapeutic complex at Truskavets' Spa on physical performance in both rats and resort patients yielded mixed results. Previous research has indicated that the phytoadaptogen “Balm Truskavets” can mitigate the negative effects of Naftussya bioactive water on dynamic muscle performance in healthy rats and patients with post-radiation encephalopathy. This study aims to evaluate the potential of this phytocomposition to prevent unfavorable actotropic effects of Truskavets’ Spa balneofactors on gastroenterologic patients. Material and methods. The study observed 40 former female athletes (aged 30÷76 years, body weight 55÷98 kg) with chronic cholecystitis in remission phase, undergoing rehabilitation at Truskavets' Spa. Parameters including PWC150, adaptation hormone levels, HRV, EEG, immunity, metabolism and gas discharge visualization (GDV) were recorded. Members of the control group received for two weeks standard balneotherapy: drinking of Naftussya bioactive water, application of Ozokerite, baths with mineral water, therapeutic physical education. Members of the main group additionally received a phytoadaptogen. Results. The analysis of individual changes revealed that normal levels of PWC in control group fell to the lower zone of the norm. Phytoadaptogen prevents PWC decrease. This is accompanied by the prevention of both a decrease in power spectral density (PSD) T4-θ EEG and VLF HRV, leukocytes level as well as area and symmetry of GDV, as well as an increase in vagal tone and entropy of HRV as well as a rightward shift in the symmetry of the virtual first Chakra of GDV. In addition, phytoadaptogen reverses balneotherapy-induced moderate decrease in the frequency of α-rhythm, PSD O1-β, sympathetic tone, serum levels of catecholamines, testosterone and IgG, activity of Na,K-ATPase of erythrocyte shadows as well as Energy of the first, third and fourth virtual Chakras. Phytoadaptogen potentiates the reduction of PSD P4-β, IgM and cholesterol as well as initiates the reduction of δ-rhythm variability, PSD of α-rhythm in C3, C4, P4 and Fp2 loci, entropy in F4 locus as well as serum potassium while increasing in serum cortisol and calcitonin, blood B-lymphocytes levels as well as PSD Fp2-δ. Conclusion. The phytoadaptogen "Balm Truskavets'" prevents the adverse effect of the standard balneotherapeutic complex of the Truskavets’ Spa on PWC by, apparently, its neuro-endocrine effects.