Evaluation of the Effect of Reiki on Pain After Lumbar Surgery

NCT07722117 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2024-A02685-42-1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial (prospective, comparative, and randomized double-blind study) is to learn if Reiki (a non-pharmacological intervention), when used alongside standard care, can treat and reduce postoperative pain in patients recovering from lumbar surgery (60 participants total, divided into two groups of 30). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does Reiki significantly reduce postoperative pain levels at day 15 (measured by a Visual Analog Scale) compared to a Sham (placebo) treatment? Does Reiki improve patient quality of life, enhance scar healing, lower daily analgesic consumption, and increase overall patient satisfaction compared to the Sham treatment? Researchers will compare Group A (30 patients receiving Reiki sessions alongside usual care) to Group B (30 patients receiving Sham/placebo sessions alongside usual care) to see if the Reiki group experiences lower pain levels, reduced need for painkillers, better healing, and higher overall satisfaction and quality of life. Participants will:

• Receive standard postoperative care following their lumbar surgery.
• Be randomly assigned to receive either two sessions of actual Reiki therapy or two sessions of a Sham (placebo) treatment.
• Evaluate their daily pain levels using a Visual Analog Scale (EVA).
• Complete follow-up assessments at specific intervals (Day 15, Day 21, and Day 30) to track pain levels, pain medication intake, scar healing (using a colorimetric scale), quality of life (via the SF-12 questionnaire), and overall satisfaction (via the Clinical Global Impression scale).

Conditions

The Lumbar Spine Surgical Intervention; Arthrodesis; Severe Herniated Disc; Scoliosis; the Positive Effect of Energy Therapy on Pain Reduction; Alternative to Reduce Analgesic Dependence

Keywords

scoliosis; NSAIDs; surgery for lumbar herniated disc; Reiki; energy therapy; the positive effect of energy therapy on pain reduction; alternative to reduce analgesic dependence

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Pain Intensity

  Change in self-reported pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The scale consists of 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable), where higher scores indicate a worse outcome. Unit of Measure: Scale range (0 to 10)

  30 days

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Score

  30 days

• Daily Pain Score via Daily Diary

  30 days

• Wound Healing Phase Evaluation

  30 days

• Quality of Life Assessed by SF-12 Questionnaire

  30 days

• Daily Antalgic Medication Consumption

  30 days

Study Arms (2)

Group A treated with Reiki

EXPERIMENTAL

Standard treatment (analgesic + kinesitherapy sessions) + Treatment session (Reiki).

Other: Reiki treatment and chirurgy

Groupe B control treated with Sham

SHAM COMPARATOR

standard treatment (analgesic + kinesitherapy sessions) + Treatment session (Sham)

Other: Sham treatment and chirurgy

Interventions

Sham treatment and chirurgy OTHER

Patients will receive a Sham session one week before the intervention. The scheduled intervention will take place.In addition to the study treatments, a recommended postoperative physical rehabilitation program will be suggested to the patients and then they will have their second Reiki session at the Bizet Clinic and complete the scar questionnaire, VAS, and analgesic consumption.

Groupe B control treated with Sham

Reiki treatment and chirurgy OTHER

Patients will receive a Reiki session one week before the intervention. The scheduled intervention will take place.In addition to the study treatments, a recommended postoperative physical rehabilitation program will be suggested to the patients and then they will have their second Reiki session at the Bizet Clinic and complete the scar questionnaire, VAS, and analgesic consumption.

Group A treated with Reiki

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Subject aged 18 years or older.
• Referred for a lumbar surgery.
• Absence of participation in another clinical study.
• Subject affiliated with a social security scheme or beneficiary of such a scheme.

You may not qualify if:

• Neuropathic patient
• Presence of neuropathic pain
• Diagnosis of fibromyalgia
• Received therapeutic touch, polarity therapy, or professional massage therapy in the past four weeks
• Unable to undergo medical follow-up for the study
• Adult subject protected by law, under guardianship or trusteeship

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Clinique Bizet: lead

Study Sites (2)

Benkessou

Paris, 75016, France

RECRUITING

Bizet Clinic

Paris, 75016, France

RECRUITING

Related Publications (8)

• Guo X, Long Y, Qin Z, Fan Y. Therapeutic effects of Reiki on interventions for anxiety: a meta-analysis. BMC Palliat Care. 2024 Jun 13;23(1):147. doi: 10.1186/s12904-024-01439-x.

  PMID: 38872168 BACKGROUND

• Kocoglu F, Zincir H. The Effect of Reiki on Pain, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Adolescents With Dysmenorrhea. Holist Nurs Pract. 2021 Nov-Dec 01;35(6):306-314. doi: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000477.

  PMID: 34647912 BACKGROUND

• Jahantiqh F, Abdollahimohammad A, Firouzkouhi M, Ebrahiminejad V. Effects of Reiki Versus Physiotherapy on Relieving Lower Back Pain and Improving Activities Daily Living of Patients With Intervertebral Disc Hernia. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2018 Jan-Dec;23:2515690X18762745. doi: 10.1177/2515690X18762745.

  PMID: 29536776 BACKGROUND

• Vitale AT, O'Connor PC. The effect of Reiki on pain and anxiety in women with abdominal hysterectomies: a quasi-experimental pilot study. Holist Nurs Pract. 2006 Nov-Dec;20(6):263-72; quiz 273-4.

  PMID: 17099413 BACKGROUND

• Thrane S, Cohen SM. Effect of Reiki therapy on pain and anxiety in adults: an in-depth literature review of randomized trials with effect size calculations. Pain Manag Nurs. 2014 Dec;15(4):897-908. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2013.07.008. Epub 2014 Feb 28.

  PMID: 24582620 BACKGROUND

• Jones J. (2018). Use of Reiki for Pain Control in Post-Surgical Patients: A Critical Review of the literature. Thése de Master of Science in the Physician Assistant Program. University of North Carolina.

  BACKGROUND

• Notte BB, Fazzini C, Mooney RA. Reiki's effect on patients with total knee arthroplasty: A pilot study. Nursing. 2016 Feb;46(2):17-23. doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000476246.16717.65.

  PMID: 26760383 BACKGROUND

• Maqbool M., Javed S., Ahmed A. B. (2019). Assessment of Pain management in PostOperative Cases Using Different Scales and Questionnaires. Indo American Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 6(1): 983-987. doi:

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Ankylosis; Intervertebral Disc Displacement; Scoliosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Hernia; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Spinal Curvatures

Central Study Contacts

Bouchra BENKESSOU Chef de projet Recherche Clinique

CONTACT

+33 7 64 48 60 16; b.benkessou@hexagone-sante-paris.fr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: A comparative (intervention versus placebo), prospective, double-blind, single-centered pilot study

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 20, 2026
• First Posted: July 23, 2026
• Study Start: September 10, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2028
• Last Updated: July 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

FR (2)