Effect of laying on of hands as a complementary therapy for pain and functioning in older women with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Author: Katy Andrade Monteiro Zacaron1,2, Cláudia Soares Dos Santos1, Cyntia Pace Schmitz Corrêa1,3, Yuri Cotta E Silva1, Isabel Cristina Fonseca Reis1, Maryana Sant'Ana Simões1, Giancarlo Lucchetti1
Affiliation:
1 School of Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
2 Institute of Life Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, Brazil.
3 Faculty of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
Conference/Journal: Int J Rheum Dis
Date published: 2020 Aug 27
Other: Special Notes: doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.13952. , Word Count: 270


Aim:
To assess the effects of laying on of hands (LooH) as a complementary therapy to kinesiotherapy, on pain, joint stiffness, and functional capacity of older women with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) compared to a control group.

Methods:
In this randomized controlled clinical trial, participants were assigned into 3 groups: LooH with a spiritual component ("Spiritist passe" Group - SPG), LooH without a spiritual component (LooH Group - LHG), and a control group receiving no complementary intervention (Control Group - CG). Patients were assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks. Primary outcomes were joint stiffness and functional capacity (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC]), and pain (WOMAC and visual analog scale). Secondary outcomes were anxiety, depression, mobility, and quality of life. Differences between groups were evaluated using an intention-to-treat approach.

Results:
A total of 120 women (mean age = 69.2 ± 5.2 years) with KOA were randomized (40 participants per group). At 8 weeks, SPG differed significantly from the LHG for WOMAC Functional Status (between-group difference in the change = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.35 to 1.59, P = .001); Anxiety levels (between-group difference in the change = 1.38; 95% CI: 0.11 to 2.65, P = .027); and also from the CG for all outcomes with exception of WOMAC Stiffness. After 16 weeks, SPG differed significantly from the LHG only for WOMAC Functional Status (between-group difference in the change = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.32 to 1.52, P = .001]) and also from the CG for all outcomes with exception of WOMAC Stiffness and timed up-and-go.

Conclusion:
Our results suggest that LooH with a "spiritual component" may promote better long-term functional outcomes than both LooH without a "spiritual component" and a control group without LooH.

Keywords: complementary therapies; holistic therapies; knee osteoarthritis; spiritual healing; spiritual therapies; therapeutic touch.

PMID: 32852138 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.13952

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