THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THERAPEUTIC TOUCH FOR DECREASING PAIN AND IMPROVING FUNCTIONAL ABILITY IN ELDERS WITH ARTHRITIS.
Contributors: University of Minnesota.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 179
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Psychobiology.; Health Sciences, Rehabilitation and Therapy.
Description: The purpose of the study was to determine if the administration of Therapeutic Touch (TT) to elders with degenerative arthritis decreased pain and improved functional ability, and if TT was more effective than progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and routine treatment for arthritis.

One hundred eight non institutionalized subjects, age 55 or older, with degenerative arthritis, were randomly assigned to the TT or PMR treatments. Subjects served as their own control for four weeks, and then received six treatments, at one week intervals. A total of 84 subjects completed all six treatments and the data collection instruments.

Instruments used to measure pain and functional ability were the visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain intensity and distress, McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), and the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale, version-2 (AIMS2). Measurements were taken on admission, at week three of the four week baseline period, and after the first, third and sixth treatments.

No significant differences between groups were found on demographic variables. The VAS, MPQ and AIMS2 were compared using paired t-tests to determine the effect of TT and PMR. Significance differences from baseline to post-sixth treatment were found. TT decreased pain (t(46) = 7.60, p = $<$.001) and distress (t(44) = 7.08, p = $<$.001). Functional ability improved after TT for hand function (t(45) = 2.81, p =.007), pain (t(45) = 3.02, p =.004), tension (t(45) = 2.45, p =.014), mood (t(45) = 4.67, p = $<$.001), and satisfaction (t(43) = 2.78, p =.008). Progressive muscle relaxation decreased pain (t(36) = 6.58, p =.005) and distress (t(36) = 6.90, p = $<$.001). Functional ability subscales for walking and bending (t(32) = 2.10, p =.044), pain (t(32) = 4.25, p = $<$.001), tension (t(32) = 2.32, p =.027), mood (t(32) = 2.82, p =.008), and satisfaction (t(30) = 2.87, p =.007) were improved for the PMR proup.

Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to determine if differences in effectiveness existed between the TT and PMR groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the TT and PMR groups on the pain measures. Functional ability was significantly different between the TT and PMR groups for: mobility, after treatment one (F(1) = 4.07, p =.048), and three (F(1) = 6.81, p =.01); hand function after treatment six (F(1) = 3.83, p =.05). Lower scores (indicating better function) were attained by the TT group. Work scores were significantly different behrveen the groups, with lower scores in the PMR group (F(1) = 4.95, p =.05).
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-11, Section: B, page: 6854.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, 1996.

School code: 0130.