Rosenbaum, M.S., & Velde, J. (2016). The effects of yoga, massage, and reiki on patient well-being at a cancer resource center [Online exclusive]. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 20, E77–E81.
To evaluate the effects of yoga, massage, and Reiki therapies on stress, pain, anxiety, mood, overall health, and quality of life (QOL)
Data were collected from patients who self-enrolled in yoga, Reiki, and massage services during a six-month period. Patients completed study questionnaires before and after participating in one of these services, within one to three minutes before and after participation.
The time patients had been participating in the service ranges from one month to more than three years. Significant changes in pain levels pre- and postservice provision were reported (p < 0.001). Individuals receiving Reiki had higher preservice pain levels. Center staff encouraged patients with pain to enroll in Reiki. No significant postservice differences in pain across the intervention types were reported. All patients reported lower anxiety scores after receiving the service (p < 0.001) with no differences between groups.
Integrative therapies such as Reiki, massage, and yoga may be helpful for management of symptoms such as pain and anxiety.
This study has numerous limitations and high risk of bias, so no firm conclusions can be drawn about the actual efficacy of the interventions being evaluated.