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Therapeutic touch: the conventional versus the alternative.
The Australian Journal of Holistic Nursing
|January 30, 2009
Summary
Therapeutic Touch offers an alternative pain management option for individuals seeking relief beyond conventional methods. This review explores its use and implications for pain relief.
Area of Science:
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Pain Management Science
Background:
- Pain is a complex subjective experience impacting physical and psychological well-being.
- Rising healthcare costs and concerns about pharmacological treatments drive interest in alternative pain relief.
- Therapeutic Touch (TT) is an emerging complementary therapy for pain management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current issues and considerations regarding the application of Therapeutic Touch in pain management.
- To provide an overview of Therapeutic Touch as a potential alternative for pain relief.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies and theoretical frameworks on Therapeutic Touch and pain.
- Analysis of the principles and practices of Therapeutic Touch.
- Examination of patient experiences and reported outcomes with Therapeutic Touch for pain.
Main Results:
- Therapeutic Touch is explored as a non-pharmacological approach to pain relief.
- The review identifies key aspects and challenges in implementing Therapeutic Touch for pain.
- Evidence on the efficacy and mechanisms of Therapeutic Touch in pain management is discussed.
Conclusions:
- Therapeutic Touch presents a potential complementary modality for managing pain.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the efficacy and integration of Therapeutic Touch in clinical practice.
- Patients are increasingly seeking alternative therapies like Therapeutic Touch for pain management due to cost and pharmacological concerns.
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