Skip to main content

A comparison of the effects of reflexology and relaxation on pain in women with multiple sclerosis.

Authors: Fatemeh Nazari, Mozhgan Soheili, SayedMohsen Hosseini, Vahid ShaygannejadJournal: Journal of complementary & integrative medicinePublished: October 31, 2016DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2015-0046
Q2 JournalSJR: 0.4h-index: 25
Moderate EvidenceRandomized Controlled Trial

Key Findings: what this randomised trial found

  • ✓Reflexology significantly reduced pain intensity in women with multiple sclerosis compared to the control group.
  • ✓Both reflexology and relaxation techniques were effective in pain management, with reflexology showing comparable or superior results to relaxation alone.
  • ✓The pain-reducing effects of reflexology were sustained over the follow-up period, suggesting lasting therapeutic benefits for MS-related pain.

What This Means for You

This research suggests reflexology may help with MS-related pain, though the evidence is still building and you should discuss it with your doctor as a complementary option alongside your regular treatment.

What This Means for Practitioners

This RCT supports reflexology as a valid pain management tool for MS patients and provides evidence you can reference when discussing treatment options with clients dealing with chronic pain conditions.

Read Full Paper↗

Common questions about this study

What does this study mean in practice?

This research suggests reflexology may help with MS-related pain, though the evidence is still building and you should discuss it with your doctor as a complementary option alongside your regular treatment.

What did this study find?

Reflexology significantly reduced pain intensity in women with multiple sclerosis compared to the control group. Both reflexology and relaxation techniques were effective in pain management, with reflexology showing comparable or superior results to relaxation alone. The pain-reducing effects of reflexology were sustained over the follow-up period, suggesting lasting therapeutic benefits for MS-related pain.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It was published in Journal of complementary & integrative medicine, a Q2 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.

Looking for a reflexologist?

Find practitioners who can help with the conditions studied in this research.

Find a Reflexologist
A comparison of the effects of reflexology and relaxation…