Benefits of Thalassotherapy with Sleep Management on Mood States and Well-being, and Cognitive and Physical Capacities in Healthy Workers

Abstract

Objective: Thalassotherapy, which combines seawater hydrotherapy and the marine climate, improves mood, fatigue, general well-being, and physical capacities in the working population, but little is known on the interest to add sleep management to cares. We investigated effects of three days of thalassotherapy cares combined with sleep management on psychological and physical capacities using subjective and objective tests in healthy workers. Methods: Cares were undertaken in the morning after tests (10:15-12:15) and in the afternoon (14:15-16:15). Participants were asked to go to sleep from 22:30 to 07:00. Tests were performed at 09:00 before arriving to the resort (T0), the day after arrival (T1), the days following cares (T2, T3, T4), the day after week-end at home (T5) and after three days working (T6). Results: Polysomnographic sleep analysis showed that Total Sleep Time was significantly higher (+6%) the second night compared to the first, indicating an immediate positive effect of hydrotherapy cares. Self-reported mood states and health outcomes scores were improved at T2 in comparison with T1 (-67% for total mood disturbances, -17% for anxiety, -71% for fatigue, +23% for general well-being), as was daytime sleepiness (-26%). The number of lapses in the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (as objective marker of sustained attention) was significantly lower (-59%) at T2 compared to T1, whereas a delayed increase of lower limb flexibility was observed at T4 compared to T1 (+38%). Conclusion: Three days of thalassotherapy combined to sleep management have immediate beneficial effects on self-reported mood states, anxiety, fatigue, well-being and daytime sleepiness, as well as on the objective evaluation of sustained attention, in healthy workers. Beneficial effects on lower limb flexibility are observed after 3 days of cares. Positive effects were still observed after the weekend back home and after 3 days of return to work.