Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of peloid therapy in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: PD is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder, which cannot be halted. Non-pharmalogical approach is as essential as pharmacotherapy in the management of patients with PD. Peloid consists of humus and minerals formed by geological, biological, physical and chemical processes, which has been applied for treatment in various musculoskeletal conditions in many European countries. It is hypothesized that peloid therapy or mud bath can improve the treatment, rehabilitation and quality of life of PD patients.

Methods: We recruited 437 PD patients from the Regional Neurovascular Centre in Crimea. Baseline assessment, disease staging and severity by the modified Hoehn and Yahr scale and unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale (UPDRS) section III (motor assessment), and mental health assessment were recorded within a period of three years. All patients received peloid therapy along with antiparkinsonian drugs. There were two basic ways of taking the mud bath. The first was to take a deep body bath in warm diluted mud and the second was to apply a thick coat of mud to the body until it dried. Patient satisfaction surveys were conducted by trained Neurologists after three years of peloid therapy.

Results: Out of 437 patients, 278 were men (63.6%) and 159 were women (36.4%). Non-motor symptoms like anxiety and depression were prevalent among the PD population, which further aggravated the motor symptoms. All participants were satisfied with the mug bath course. Together with prescribed self-management strategies during the peloid therapy, PD patients coped with psychological stress better. Perceived benefits of peloid therapy included improvement in rigidity, gait and balance, constipation, back and shoulder pain, anxiety and insomnia.

Conclusions: Our experience demonstrates that peloid therapy might be an effective treatment modality in mild to moderate PD, in particular managing the non-motor symptoms. More research studies are needed to elucidate its benefits for practical use.

« Back to 2018 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effectiveness-of-peloid-therapy-in-management-of-parkinsons-disease-pd-a-single-center-experience/