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

Katy Andrade Monteiro Zacaron; Cláudia Soares Dos Santos; Cyntia Pace Schmitz Corrêa; Yuri Cotta E Silva; Isabel Cristina Fonseca Reis; Maryana Sant'Ana Simões; Giancarlo Lucchetti

doi:10.1111/1756-185X.13952

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

Int J Rheum Dis. 2021 Jan;24(1):36-48. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.13952. Epub 2020 Aug 27.

Authors

Katy Andrade Monteiro Zacaron^{1

2}, Cláudia Soares Dos Santos¹, Cyntia Pace Schmitz Corrêa^{1

3}, Yuri Cotta E Silva¹, Isabel Cristina Fonseca Reis¹, Maryana Sant'Ana Simões¹, Giancarlo Lucchetti¹

Affiliations

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.

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

Abstract

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.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Age Factors
Aged
Arthralgia / diagnosis
Arthralgia / physiopathology
Arthralgia / therapy*
Brazil
Female
Humans
Knee Joint / physiopathology*
Middle Aged
Osteoarthritis, Knee / diagnosis
Osteoarthritis, Knee / physiopathology
Osteoarthritis, Knee / therapy*
Pain Management*
Pain Measurement
Prospective Studies
Sex Factors
Spirituality*
Therapeutic Touch*
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome