Therapeutic touch (TT) is one of the oldest vibrational therapies still in use. Dolores Krieger and Dora Kunz, in the 1970s, pioneered the application of the method in nursing. Since then, research involving the use of therapeutic touch has been developed in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the intervention to reduce the signs and symptoms related to various diseases. Many studies have evaluated the use of TT in isolation, however, a large part of these research studies compare this strategy with other complementary therapies, such as: music, guided imagery and relaxation. The results of these studies indicate improvement or reduction of signs and symptoms investigated in patients undergoing TT. However, methodological biases make it impossible to generalize the results, making it essential to conduct well-designed clinical trials capable of determining the effectiveness of the intervention, in addition to studying populations that have not yet been addressed, such as the elderly and newborns.
Therapeutic touch; trends; Nursing strategy; Nursing care