earticle

영어

Purpose: Urban and rural populations exhibit distinct health outcomes influenced by demographic and environmental factors, with low back pain (LBP) and stress significantly affecting overall health. Regional differences further complicate these impacts. Although mud therapy and hydrotherapy are known to alleviate musculoskeletal pain, limited research exists on combining marine therapy with indoor rehabilitation exercises to address LBP and stress. Methods: The study included 31 patients with LBP aged ≥50 years living in Seoul and Wando, Jeollanam-do. A 3-day short-term indoor marine therapy program was conducted, consisting of 20 minutes of mud application and heat therapy, 15 minutes of deep tissue massage, and 60 minutes of indoor aquatic exercise. Pain, disability, stress, sleep quality, and quality of life were measured pre- and post-intervention. Results: Pain significantly decreased in both groups (p<0.05), with a notable improvement in the LBP disability index in the rural group (p<0.05). Both groups showed significant improvements in stress resistance, stress index, and fatigue levels (p<0.05). Sleep quality improved significantly only in the urban group (p<0.05), and overall quality of life improved in both groups. Conclusion: A short-term indoor marine therapy program effectively alleviates LBP and stress in both urban and rural residents. Fatigue significantly improved in urban residents, while LBP and stress showed marked reductions in rural residents. These findings suggest the need for region-specific marine therapy programs to maximize therapeutic outcomes.