Oral

This interactive research-based session uses Alternative health care modalities in nursing practice- Therapeutic Touch, and Taiji Chi. Therapeutic Touch developed in the early 1970s by Dolores Kreiger, RN, professor of nursing, and Dora Kunz, operates on a premise that the human body is kept alive and vital by a force called prana, (a Sanskrit term meaning “vital force”). The current practice is based on the assumption that the physical body is surrounded by an energy field that trained practitioners can detect, assess, and manipulate. Imbalances in this energy field often result in illness, congestion and pain that can be treated with TT. TT is a complementary healing modality used by health care providers to reduce anxiety, accelerate relaxation, decrease pain, and enhance immunity. TT is a form of energetic medicine that is based on Eastern ideas of health and disease. It works on the idea that illness is the result of an imbalance or interruption in the body’s natural energy or “life force” at a very fine or subtle level. Good health is defined as a state of emotional, mental and physical balance. The research on the efficacy of Taiji, with emphasis on quantitative research of neuromuscular, sensory, and biomechanical mechanisms of Taiji practice which afford improvements in postural stability, and qualitative research evaluating multi-dimensional wellness benefits associated with successful aging will be presented. Instruction and practice of traditional Taiji and Qigong exercises will be interspersed with the presentation.

Session Objectives: Describe and define Therapeutic Touch. Learn how and when to apply Therapeutic Touch. Illustrate how to administer Therapeutic Touch in a structured method of either: (a.) preparation, (b) treatment, or (c) termination using Krieger’s method of centering, assessment, unruffling and restoring the energy field of the recipient. Describe how nurses may use Therapeutic Touch in the healthcare system as a non-pharmacological means of connecting with and helping the patient. Summarize current scientific findings on the efficacy of Taiji practice. Recognize different components of traditional Taiji training and understand the primary purpose of the individual and combined exercises. Experience and practice exercises that can be immediately incorporated into personal practice or taught to others. Summarize multi-dimensional active aging benefits of Taiji and Qigong practice as reported by research intervention participants.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing