Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Beneficial effects of Thalassotherapy in upper
limb hemiparesis after stroke
Peñalver I (1-2) , Morer C (1-3) , Maraver F (3-4)
(1) Thalasso Center, San Pedro del Pinatar-Murcia, Spain
(2) University Institute for Ageing Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain
(3) Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Medical Hydrology, Faculty of
Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
(4) Professional School of Medical Hydrology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad
Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
carla.morer@thalasia.com
Objective
The purpose of this pilot study is to objectify improvements in motor function of
paretic upper limb of sub acute or chronic stroke patients combining classical
physical therapy with seawater hydrotherapy and other Talassotherapy techniques
following a program of intensive neurorehabilitation of 2 or 3 weeks in a thalassotherapy
center (spa therapy). Design: 17 patients who had an stroke participated in
a standard rehabilitation program and thalassotherapy , for 2h and 30 min, five
times a week for 2 or 3 weeks. The Fugl- Meyer Assessment was used to assess
changes in upper-limb motor recovery and motor function after intervention.Impairments,
activity limitations, participation restrictions, personal and environmental
factors were also assessed (Barthel index).Conclusions: Thalassotherapy,
could be a patient-upper limb specific treatment. We believe that incorporating
aquatic therapy into the conventional rehabilitation program at an early or not stage
of treatment, and applying it intensively on a short period of time (continuing the
land exercise after the treatment), may be beneficial in improving the effects and
outcome on motor recovery and function. The limitations of this study are the
relatively small study population and the lack of group control; additional research
on spa therapy programs components, intensity, application time, duration need to
be a standardized complementary form of arm rehabilitation after a stroke.
References
1. Mehrholz J, Kugler J, Pohl Water-based exercises for improving activities of
daily living after stroke.MCochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Jan
19;(1):CD008186.
2. Takekawa T, Kakuda W, Taguchi K, Ishikawa A, Sase Y, Abo M- Botulinum
toxin type A injection, followed by home-based functional training for upper
limb hemiparesis after stroke.Int J Rehabil Res. 2012 Mar 25.
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 415-416
415
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4