A Randomised Clinical Trial (RCT) of the effects of the energy-based complementary therapy of Healing Touch versus placebo on the functional health of community dwelling older women.

Series of seven weekly sessions of Healing Touch treatments delivered in the participant's home. All sessions delivered by the same Level 4 trained Healing Touch registered nurse. Treatment time generally averaged 30 min, with rare exceptions of 20 minutes for 2 participants who could not tolerate supine position on massage table, and with 0-1 of 7 treatments in each participant's series extending beyond 30 min to a maximum of 40 minutes, depending on the technique being used for that treatment session. Healing Touch is an energy-based therapy that uses gentle touch on or above the body in particular locations in a specific sequence that differs for each of the 35 techniques within the established curriculum certified by the American Holistic Nurses Association. A different technique was used each week. Participants in both the intervention group and the comparator group were settled on to a massage table provided by the Healing Touch Nurse, and positioned with pillows for comfort and proper anatomical alignment, fully clothed except shoes. A lightweight sheet was placed over the participant for comfort and to prevent tactile perception of the provider's skin versus the placebo touch, after which a soft sleeping mask and ear plugs (to reduce sensory interruption and to maintain masking to group allocation) were applied by the Healing Touch Nurse. Techniques were chosen based on taking a short history at each home visit, and on an energetic assessment. Vital signs were taken before and after each treatment session for both groups.