Spa Therapies in Medicine

Uses in Cancer, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, and Many Other Conditions

Dec 9, 2008

Spa treatments, including massage, yoga classes, and aromatherapy, have been shown to reduce pain in patients with cancer, arthritis and other ailments.

A study funded in part by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) found that Massage Therapy reduces pain and improves mood in advanced cancer patients. Researchers noted that people with advanced cancer often experience pain that causes physical and emotional distress. This in turn leads to a decrease in functional ability and quality of life. In this study researchers evaluated the benefits of massage versus simple touch therapy (placing both hands on specific body sites) in patients with advanced cancer.

This multi-site study—conducted at 15 U.S. hospices in the Population-based Palliative Care Research Network—included 380 participants with advanced cancer who were experiencing moderate-to-severe pain. Participants were randomly assigned to receive six 30-minute treatment sessions of either massage or simple touch therapy over a 2-week period.

Results of the study showed that both groups experienced statistically significant improvement in pain relief, physical and emotional distress, and quality of life. Immediate improvement in pain and mood was greater with massage than with simple touch; however, the study period was too short to evaluate sustained effects of these therapies.

Aromatic Oils

In another study, researchers assessed the effects of acupressure using lavender oil as a complementary treatment for pain relief in patients with low back pain. After one week of treatment (8 sessions), the treated group showed a 39 percent improvement in pain compared to the control group. In a related study the same researchers evaluated ginger and citrus essential oils used in massage therapy for patients with knee paint. They found after 4 weeks of treatment, the improvement of physical function and pain were far superior to that of the control group.

Spa Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis

In a recent publication, researchers in Serbia described a series of studies in which they evaluated a number of spa therapies, including mud treatments, mineral and pearl baths, underwater shower massage, and certain forms of electrotherapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Questionnaire, the researchers found that after 28 days of spa therapy, patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed significant improvement in functional condition.

Yoga

Researchers at The University of North Carolina health system are studying yoga for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) and finding excellent results. In addition, doctors at Duke University completed a study showing that yoga proved significant improved energy, sleep and hot flashes in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer. In a related study, researchers found that yoga helps people with hypertension, anxiety, arthritis, chronic back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, stress, depression and diabetes.

The wide acceptance of yoga’s legitimacy has increased with the National Institute of Health’s recent funding of studies on yoga in various diseases. Because of its reported benefits of stress, physicians at Walter Reed Army Hospital are now using yoga to help Iraq veterinarians cope with the effects of war-related stress. A recent RAND study showed that 20 percent of the approximately 1.6 million U.S. soldiers who have served in Iraq suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The benefits of yoga for these conditions have caused the U. S. Army to contract for yoga programs to be held across the country.

The copyright of the article Spa Therapies in Medicine in Spa Treatments is owned by Elaine Moore. Permission to republish Spa Therapies in Medicine in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.