The effectiveness of therapeutic touch for decreasing pain in elders with degenerative arthritis.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if Therapeutic Touch (TT) decreased pain in elders with degenerative arthritis, compared with routine treatment and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). Eighty-two noninstitutionalized subjects, age 55 or older, were randomly assigned to TT or PMR treatments. Subjects served as their own controls for 4 weeks and then received six treatments at 1-week intervals. Visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain intensity and distress were used. Significant differences from baseline to postsixth treatment were found within groups. TT decreased pain (t(46) = 7.60, p = < .001) and distress (t(44) = 7.08, p = < .001). PMR decreased pain (t(36) = 6.58, p = .005) and distress (t(36) = 6.90, p = < .001). Differences in effectiveness existed between the TT and PMR groups; the pain and distress scores were lower in the PMR group. The differences approached significance for pain, F(2, 76) = 2.8, p = .06, and were significant for distress, F(2, 75) = 5.6, p = .005.

• Authors: S D Eckes Peck
• Journal: Journal of holistic nursing : official journal of the American Holistic Nurses' Association (J Holist Nurs) Vol. 15 Issue 2 Pg. 176-98 (Jun 1997) ISSN: 0898-0101 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9165806 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Chronic Disease
• Clinical Nursing Research
• Female
• Holistic Nursing (standards)
• Humans
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Osteoarthritis (complications)
• Pain (etiology, nursing)
• Pain Measurement
• Therapeutic Touch (standards)