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The effect of healing touch on the pain and mobility of persons with osteoarthritis: a feasibility study
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The effect of healing touch on the pain and mobility of persons with osteoarthritis: a feasibility study

Der-Fa Lu, Laura K Hart, Susan K Lutgendorf and Yelena Perkhounkova
Geriatric nursing (New York), Vol.34(4), pp.314-322
07/2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2013.05.003
PMID: 23835011

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Abstract

The aims of this pilot study were to investigate the effects of Healing Touch (HT) on the pain level, joint function, mobility, and depression in persons with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint(s). A randomized controlled trial using a repeated measures design was used. Cognitively intact persons (institutionalized and community) with a diagnosis of OA of the knee joint(s) received either HT sessions three times per week for 6 weeks (n = 12) or weekly friendly visits (FV) (n = 7). The HT sessions were delivered by a team of two nurses certified as HT practitioners and the FV was conducted by a nurse. All subjects continued to receive their standard care including the methods they had been using to relieve their joint pain. The two groups were similar regarding demographic variables, number of knees affected, co-morbidities, pain medications used and outcome variables at baseline. Two pain outcome measures (intensity and life interference) produced significant interaction effects. Two joint outcome measures (extension and extensor lag) also produced significant interaction effects. Furthermore, the HT group demonstrated significant improvements in 9 of the 12 outcome variables (75%) while no significant improvements occurred in the FV group. The HT group exhibited sustained effects (3 weeks post treatments) in three outcome variables. The reduction in joint pain and improvement in joint function suggest that biofield therapies could be effective non-pharmacological adjuncts to treatment of OA.
Pilot Projects Humans Pain Management Pain - etiology Osteoarthritis - physiopathology Osteoarthritis - therapy Osteoarthritis - complications Therapeutic Touch

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