Reiki to help recovery after total knee replacement
THE EFFECT OF REIKI PRACTICE ON POSTOPERATIVE PAIN, MOBILIZATION, AND VITAL SIGNS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
This will try Reiki to see if it reduces pain, helps you move sooner, and steadies vital signs in adults after total knee replacement.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ondokuz Mayıs University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Sinop) |
| Trial ID | NCT07442435 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will assign adults undergoing elective primary total knee arthroplasty to either Reiki plus routine postoperative care or routine care alone. Reiki sessions will be delivered in the early postoperative period and outcomes will be measured at 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery. Primary outcomes include validated pain and mobility scales and objective vital sign measurements, with opioid use and mobilization milestones also recorded. Key exclusions include prior energy-therapy experience, chronic pain syndromes, major neuropsychiatric disorders, PCA use, and serious postoperative complications.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) having elective primary total knee replacement who are hospitalized for two days, not receiving general anesthesia, able to communicate, and without prior experience with energy therapies.
Not a fit: Patients with chronic pain syndromes, major neuropsychiatric disorders, current opioid or corticosteroid use, patient-controlled analgesia, serious postoperative complications, recent major surgery, prior Reiki experience, or ICU admission are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Reiki could lower early postoperative pain, support earlier mobilization, and reduce physiologic stress after knee replacement.
How similar studies have performed: Small trials in other surgical populations suggest Reiki can reduce pain and anxiety, but the evidence is limited, inconsistent, and not well established for knee replacement.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 years and older * Undergoing elective (planned) primary total knee arthroplasty * Not receiving general anesthesia * Able to communicate effectively and understand the study protocol * Hospitalized for two days following total knee arthroplasty Exclusion Criteria: * Refusal to participate in the study * Previous total knee arthroplasty or revision knee surgery * Prior experience with Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, or other energy-based therapies * Development of serious postoperative complications (e.g., bleeding, infection) * Diagnosis of chronic pain syndrome (e.g., fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain) * Neuropsychiatric disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, or major depressive disorder * Current use of psychotropic medications * Regular use of opioids or corticosteroids * Use of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) * Major surgery or severe trauma within the past 6 months * Admission to the intensive care unit postoperatively
Where this trial is running
Sinop
- Sinop Ataturk State Hospital — Sinop, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Fetih Bisgin
- Email: fetihbisgin@gmail.com
- Phone: +90-0544-684-6334
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.