| Efficacy of AquaMED Therapy in Reducing Stress and Promoting Wellness in Chronic Pain Syndrome and Healthy Groups |
Sixteen men and women, from 23 to 80 years old, were studied using AquaMED therapy to determine its effectiveness as a treatment modality in reducing pain and stress. They were divided into two groups. Eight, were control healthy individuals and eight patients were afflicted with CPS. Six cardiovascular indices were assessed as indicators of stress. There were systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output and oxygen saturation were evaluated before, at half-way during, and at the end of the AquaMED therapy. Subjects also reported subjective evaluations and perceived pain levels, as well as, relaxation levels before and after therapy. CPS patients and healthy volunteers showed a decrease in all indices with the exception of mean heart rate for healthy subjects. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures, cardiac output and stroke volume showed the largest decrease for both groups. The level of pain was reduced from a mean of 5.25 to 2.5 according to the VAS (Visual Analog Scale) in the patients with CPS. All patients and four of the six normal subjects expressed that they experienced marked relaxation. Overall, AquaMED therapy was shown to be an effective treatment modality for alleviating psychological stress, physical pain, and promoting wellness.
This means, These Indices Changed Due to AquaMED Therapy
| x1a | x2b | %c | td | se | rf | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BP1 | 121 | 113 | -7% | 1.25 | 15.52 | .31 |
| BP2 | 66 | 61 | -8% | 2.62* | 9.34 | .56 |
| HR | 76 | 79 | +4% | 2.51* | 9.96 | .54 |
| CO | 6.7 | 5.6 | -17% | .03 | 2.12 | .01 |
| SV | 88 | 72 | -18% | .76 | 24.9 | .19 |
| SO2 | 97 | 96 | -1% | .34 | 3.11 | .09 |
| Notes | x1a | - mean before therapy | se | - standard deviation |
| x2b | - mean after therapy | rf | - point-biserial correlation coefficient | |
| %c | - percentage change (before and after therapy) | * | - indicates statistical significance and rejection of Ho | |
| td | - t-test at .05 and 15df = 1.753 |
The chronic pain which leads to muscle tension, restricts blood flow to tissues, compounding physical pain. Chronic stress stimulates the sympathetic nervous system and reticular formation causing increased release of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine. Under intense stress, these neurotransmitters are released faster than they are resynthesized, thereby diminishing their availability.
AquaMED therapy is an effective treatment modality for chronic pain sufferers because it reduces physical and emotional stress. If stress is not managed, it can exacerbate pain problems.
Physical and psychological benefits of AquaMED include increased blood circulation in the treated area and accelerated healing, relief of pain and ache, relief of stress and increased range of motion in joints. AquaMED therapy is an effective treatment modality for chronic pain sufferers because it reduces physical and emotional stress.
All subjects strongly agreed that they felt mentally and emotionally relaxed after therapy. All subjects indicated the therapy was beneficial and indicated desires to continue more therapy sessions.
Heart rate and diastolic blood pressure did decrease for the CPS group. Additionally, subjective evaluations indicated that subjects in both groups did in fact relax and alleviate stress. AquaMED is an especially effective treatment modality for chronic pain sufferers, but healthy subjects benefit from the relaxation response as well.
| J. Antonio Aldrete, M.D., M.S. Valerie Burke, Psychologist Brent Decker, L.M.F.T. |