Last Updated on February 11, 2026 by MASSAGE Magazine
Spa therapy for Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients may improve quality of life and reduce health-related costs when combined with conventional treatment. That is the conclusion of a clinical and economic analysis conducted at the University Hospital in Toulouse, France.
In this article, we examine how the study was designed, which spa therapies were provided, how outcomes were measured, and what researchers found regarding quality of life, psychological well-being, and medical costs. All findings referenced here come directly from the published study in Movement Disorders (2003, Vol. 18, No. 5, pp. 578–584).
What Was the Purpose of the Spa Therapy Study in Parkinson’s Disease
The purpose of the study was to evaluate both the clinical effectiveness and the economic impact of spa therapy in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Titled “Clinical and Economic Analysis of Spa Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease,” the study was conducted by Christine Brefel-Courbon, M.D.; Karine Desboeuf, M.D.; Claire Thalamas, M.D.; Monique Galitzky, M.D.; Jean-Michel Senard, M.D., Ph.D.; Olivier Rascol, M.D., Ph.D.; and Jean-Louis Montastruc, M.D., Ph.D.
Researchers sought to determine whether adding a structured spa therapy program to routine drug therapy would improve quality of life and whether it would influence overall medical costs.
How Was the Study Designed
Thirty-one Parkinson’s patients were divided into two groups: an immediate spa-therapy group and a delayed spa-therapy group.
Patients in the immediate spa-therapy group received:
Three weeks of spa therapy and 17 weeks of routine drug therapy, referred to as the spa period
Followed by 20 weeks of routine drug therapy alone, referred to as the non-spa period
Patients in the delayed spa-therapy group experienced the reverse sequence, with 20 weeks of routine drug therapy preceding the spa period.
This crossover design allowed researchers to compare outcomes during spa and non-spa periods within the same study population.
What Did Spa Therapy Include
Spa therapy was provided at the spa resort of Ussat Les Bains and included multiple therapeutic components.
Participants received:
- Thermal baths
- Drinking mineral water
- Showers
- Underwater massage every morning, six days a week
- Physiotherapy three afternoons a week
- Speech and relaxation therapy two afternoons a week
This structured program combined hydrotherapy, physical therapy, and relaxation-based interventions over a three-week period.
How Were Outcomes Measured
Effectiveness was assessed using several standardized tools at baseline, four weeks, and 20 weeks.
Researchers used:
- The Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life Scale
- The Medical Outcomes Short Form
- A motor-function scale
- The General Health Questionnaire, a psychological evaluation
Motor function was assessed by a physician who was unaware of the study conditions, thereby reducing potential bias.
Did Spa Therapy Improve Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Patients
At four weeks, spa therapy significantly improved certain dimensions of quality of life.
According to the Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life Scale, stigma and communication were significantly improved during the spa period. All other dimensions, except social support, also improved.
The authors stated, “Spa therapy significantly improved two dimensions (stigma and communication) that have been shown to be of considerable concern to the progression of disease in PD patients.”
Using the Medical Outcomes Short Form, researchers also found that physical and mental health were significantly improved at four weeks during the spa period.
However, at 20 weeks, there were no significant differences between the spa and non-spa periods according to either quality-of-life survey.
What About Motor Function and Psychological Well-Being
Motor function showed only a slight decrease in complications during the spa period.
The motor-function assessment, conducted by a physician unaware of the study details, did not reveal major differences beyond slight reductions in complications.
In contrast, psychological well-being showed clearer changes. The General Health Questionnaire indicated that thermal treatment significantly reduced psychological distress in PD patients.
The authors concluded, “Concerning efficacy, our study showed that spa therapy improved some aspects of PD patients’ quality of life and their perception of psychological well being.”
Was Spa Therapy Cost-Effective for Parkinson’s Disease
According to the study’s economic analysis, spa therapy decreased health-related expenditure in PD.
Researchers recorded direct medical costs throughout each 20-week period, including:
- Hospitalization
- Outpatient fees
- Drug therapy
- Ancillary care
- Spa therapy
“Our results indicated that spa therapy decreases health related expenditure in PD,” the authors wrote. “The cost of spa therapy was counteracted by a reduction in other medical costs, particularly ancillary care, being 1.6 times less expensive.”
In other words, although spa therapy involved its own costs, those expenses were offset by reductions in other areas of care.
What Can We Take Away from This Study
This clinical and economic analysis from the University Hospital in Toulouse suggests that spa therapy for Parkinson’s disease may improve certain aspects of quality of life and psychological well-being, particularly in the short term.
At four weeks, patients experienced improvements in stigma, communication, physical health and mental health during the spa period. Psychological distress was also significantly reduced. While long-term differences at 20 weeks were not statistically significant, the economic findings indicated that spa therapy was associated with decreased overall health-related expenditure.
Originally published in Movement Disorders in 2003, this study highlights the potential role of structured spa therapy as a complementary approach alongside routine drug treatment for Parkinson’s disease.