Healing touch after open heart surgery: reiki and massage may ease pain and improve sleep
NCT ID NCT05853250
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether Reiki (a light-touch energy therapy) and manual therapy (gentle massage) can improve recovery after open heart surgery. 272 patients were randomly assigned to receive either 20 minutes of these therapies for 3 days after surgery, or usual care with rest. Researchers measured depression, anxiety, pain, sleep, hospital stay length, and complications. The goal is to see if these complementary therapies help patients feel better and recover faster.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Reiki and manual therapy
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a drug-free way to help heart surgery patients feel less pain and anxiety and sleep better after their operation.
What could go wrong
This is a completed study, but it was not blinded, so results may be influenced by patients knowing they received the therapy. The effects may be small or not apply to all heart surgery patients.
Disclaimer
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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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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.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States