Hypnosis Found to Facilitate Healing of Bone Fractures
By The INTERLINK Staff
The March 1999 issue of Alternative Therapies journal reported on a study that investigated the efficacy of hypnotherapy in healing bone fractures. The randomized, controlled pilot study examined the rate of healing for 12 subjects with fracture of the ankle. The study was conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and the McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. The study was funded by the National Institute of Health; National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine.
The subjects were recruited from orthopedic emergency departments and randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group. All subjects received standard orthopedic care with clinical assessments for 12 weeks following injury. In addition, the treatment group received a program of hypnotic intervention, supervised by a psychologist with advanced certification training in hypnosis. The program consisted of six office visits. The hypnotic sessions focused on the healing process, with direct and indirect suggestions to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, stimulate tissue growth and fusion at the injury site, and counteract psychological distress. The treatment subjects were given hypnotic rehearsal of increased ankle mobility, enhanced bone strength, and recovery of normal activities. They were also given audiotapes for daily at-home practice. All treatment subjects were tested with the Hypnotic Induction Scale (a standardized measure of hypnotizability) and found to be moderately to highly hypnotizable.
Healing at the injury site was determined with radiographic data and orthopedic assessment, as well as subjective reports of the subjects. The results were that the treatment group had improved ankle mobility, greater functional strength, and lower use of pain relievers throughout the 12-week recovery period, as compared to the control group. Overall, hypnosis subjects had a faster rate of recovery, and reported less pain, less stress, less anxiety, a more positive attitude, and an enhanced sense of relaxation.
In other medical studies, hypnosis has been found beneficial in healing and pain management for severe burns, in reduction of tumors, and for increased range of motion in neuromuscular disorders. The underlying mechanism by which hypnosis creates physical healing is not fully understood. Possibly, the relaxation associated with the hypnotic state affects autonomic processes, which, in turn, enhance immune functioning.
Citation: Using Hypnosis to Accelerate the Healing of Bone Fractures: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study, by Carol S. Ginandes, Ph.D. and Daniel I Rosenthal, M.D. in Alternative Therapies, March 1999, Vol. 5, No. 2, p. 67 - 75.