“Effects of Tactile Touch on pain, sleep and health related quality of life in Parkinson's disease with chronic pain”: A randomized, controlled and prospective study

Parkinson's disease (PD) is often associated with chronic PD related pain. Complementary medicine are widely used but randomized, controlled and prospective studies of the effects are sparse. To compare the effects of Tactile Touch (TT) with Rest to Music (RTM) in PD patients with chronic pain and to describe effects within groups. A 34 week controlled randomized and prospective trial compared the effects of TT with RTM in 45 (29 TT and 16 RTM) patients with PD and chronic pain. The whole body tactile stimulation method was performed for each individual patient by the same therapist for 10 times during the first 8 weeks. The RTM group received the same therapy except for the tactile stimulation. Pharmacotherapy was kept unchanged. Participants were assessed at pre- and post-intervention for pain, sleep patterns and health related quality of life (HRQoL). Differences between TT and RTM groups were few. Total PDSS significantly improved within the TT but not in the RTM-group. No significant differences between groups were seen in pain parameters, although significant improvements were seen within the TT-group after the intervention period. There were significant improvements within both groups in HRQoL and between groups in the items physical role and social functioning 4 weeks after screening. No significant differences between the TT and RTM groups were seen. Only in single aspects did patients with PD and chronic pain have more benefit more from CAM therapy with TT in combination with RTM.