Can energy healing or meditation soothe knee pain? new study investigates
NCT ID NCT05541718
First seen Nov 05, 2025 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 27 times
Summary
This study tested whether Reiki (a hands-on energy therapy), sham Reiki (a placebo version), or mindfulness meditation can help reduce pain and stiffness in people with knee osteoarthritis. 164 adults with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to one of four groups: Reiki, sham Reiki, mindfulness meditation, or a waitlist. Each active treatment lasted 20 minutes once a week for four weeks. Researchers measured changes in symptoms, depression, and anxiety to see if these approaches offer real relief.
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Reiki, sham Reiki, and mindfulness meditation
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a non-drug option for easing knee osteoarthritis pain and related depression or anxiety.
What could go wrong
This is a small, completed trial with no phase designation, so results may not be conclusive. The placebo effect is strong in pain studies, and the benefits may be modest or not lasting.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.