cam-therapies-2017-posters-accepted-abstracts

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Current Research: Integrative Medicine

CAM Therapies 2017

September 18-19, 2017 Charlotte, USA

International Meeting on

Complementary and Alternative Medicine & Therapies

The effects of tactile touch (TT) on chronic pain in Parkinson´s disease

Örjan Skogar

Karolinska Institute, Sweden

ackground: During 2006 to 2011 data were collected in a clinical study concerning the effects of Tactile

Touch in patients with Parkinson´s Disease (PD). The systematic study was preceded by Patients reports of

own experiences of pain relief during and after the sessions of this form of superficial whole body massage. Pain

is one of the most bothersome non motor sympyoms (NMS) of PD, well described as much more common than in

a general population. Pain can be interpreted as a form of chronic stress of the body. Cortisol is a well established

surrogate marker for stress. Cortisol is immediately secreted to saliva and the measure of salivary cortisol

concentration was a validated fast reactive surrogate marker for stress relief. The normal diurnal fluctuations of

cortisol concentrations are of great importance for interpretation of the results from interventions with impact on

stress levels. Asystematic study was performed at three different sites in Southern Sweden. All massage therapists

were trained by the same teacher the systematic method was described in detailed written instructions to ensure

that the intervention group received equivalent treatment. Each session was of similar duration and with the

same external circumstances concerning room temperature, quiet soft music instructions. The massage oils were

from the same manufacturer. A control group of patients with Parkinson´s Disease and chronic Parkinson related

pains were assigned via a lottery system performed by a non-participating and neutral person. These patients

received” rest to music” but no tactile touch. Accurate validated scales were used before and after the study.

Interventions were performed ten times after randomization during eight weeks, followed by a 26 weeks long

follow up period. The results of this study showed significantly decreased salivary cortisol concentrations after

intervention with TT and to a lesser extent after RTM but no significant differences between groups.  The quality

of sleep, improved significantly within the TT group in the beginning of the study. Health Related Quality of Life

(HRQoL), compared to a Swedish healthy reference population (SF-36, Swever.) improved in both groups. Only

in the treatment group but normal values compared to a healthy Swedish population aged by age and gender were

only shown in the short time follow up in the TT group.