A pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigating the effectiveness of reflexology for managing pregnancy low back and/or pelvic pain

Authors: Close Ciara, Sinclair Marlene, Cullough Julie Mc, Liddle Dianne, Hughes CiaraJournal: Complementary therapies in clinical practicePublished: May 1, 2016DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.05.002

Q2 JournalSJR: 0.65h-index: 72SCImago

Preliminary EvidencePilotn=90 participants

Pregnancy Discomfort Chronic Lower Back Pain

In Plain Language: reflexology for pregnancy, explained

Many pregnant women with low back and/or pelvic pain (LBPP) use pain medications to manage this pain, much of which is self-prescribed and potentially harmful. Therefore, there is a need to find effective nonpharmacological treatments for the condition. Reflexology has previously been shown to help nonspecific low back pain. Therefore; a pilot RCT was conducted investigating reflexology in the management of pregnancy-LBPP. 90 primiparous women were randomised to either usual care, a reflexology or footbath intervention. Primary outcome measures were; the Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). 64 women completed the RCT; retention rates for the reflexology group were 80%, usual care group 83.33% and footbath group 50%. The reflexology group demonstrated a Clinically Important Change (CIC) in pain frequency (1.64 cm). Results indicate it is feasible to conduct an RCT in this area, although a footbath is an unsuitable sham treatment. Reflexology may help manage pregnancy-LBPP; however a fully powered trial is needed to confirm this.

Key Findings: what this pilot study found about pregnancy

✓The reflexology group demonstrated a clinically important change in pain frequency of 1.64 cm on the Pain Visual Analogue Scale, suggesting reflexology may help manage pregnancy-related low back and pelvic pain.
✓Reflexology showed superior retention rates (80%) compared to the footbath sham treatment (50%), indicating it is a more acceptable intervention for pregnant women with low back and/or pelvic pain.
✓The study confirmed that conducting a randomized controlled trial on reflexology for pregnancy-related low back and pelvic pain is feasible, though a footbath proved to be an unsuitable sham treatment control.

What This Means for You

Reflexology showed promise for pregnancy back and pelvic pain in this small pilot study, but larger studies are needed before we can be confident it will work for you.

What This Means for Practitioners

This pilot demonstrates feasibility of conducting reflexology RCTs in pregnancy pain management and suggests potential benefit, supporting the case for larger, well-powered trials to establish effectiveness.

Study Design: how this pilot study was run

Sample Size

90 participants

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Reflexology for pregnancy: common questions

Does reflexology help with pregnancy?

Reflexology showed promise for pregnancy back and pelvic pain in this small pilot study, but larger studies are needed before we can be confident it will work for you.

What did this study find?

The reflexology group demonstrated a clinically important change in pain frequency of 1.64 cm on the Pain Visual Analogue Scale, suggesting reflexology may help manage pregnancy-related low back and pelvic pain. Reflexology showed superior retention rates (80%) compared to the footbath sham treatment (50%), indicating it is a more acceptable intervention for pregnant women with low back and/or pelvic pain. The study confirmed that conducting a randomized controlled trial on reflexology for pregnancy-related low back and pelvic pain is feasible, though a footbath proved to be an unsuitable sham treatment control.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a pilot study and we rate its evidence preliminary. It covers 90 participants. It was published in Complementary therapies in clinical practice, a Q2 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.