A pilot study of the effectiveness of reflexology in treating idiopathic constipation in women
Preliminary EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology for constipation, explained
Constipation is a common problem in the UK, affecting up to 20% of the population. Reflexologists claim that reflexology can be beneficial in the treatment of constipation. The aim of this exploratory pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of reflexology in treating idiopathic constipation in women and it is the first study of the effectiveness of reflexology for the treatment of women with idiopathic constipation defined according to Rome II criteria. Nineteen female patients referred to a specialist biofeedback service with idiopathic constipation defined by Rome II criteria were recruited. A course of reflexology treatment (weekly for six weeks) was given. Patients' subjective perception of constipation was recorded as well as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), the Short form 36 (SF36), whole gut transit and the Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ) before and after the intervention. All participants completed the intervention and none were lost to follow-up. Ninety-four percent of participants identified their constipation to be improved to some extent. Ten participants had improved colonic transit times and two patients had normalised colonic transit. Ten patients (53%, p=0.19) demonstrated an improved anxiety score and 11 participants (58%, p=0.14) demonstrated an improved depression score on the HAD scales. Improvement was seen in general health, mental health and vitality on the SF36 scale, with vitality improving significantly (p<0.05). Sixty-three percent of participants had a more positive attitude (p=0.03) towards CAM and holistic health following treatment. This study shows that in this sample reflexology has potential benefit for treating idiopathic constipation in women. Further randomised trials are required.
Key Findings: what this pilot study found about constipation
- ✓All 19 female participants with idiopathic constipation completed the six-week course of weekly reflexology treatment.
- ✓This was the first study to evaluate the effectiveness of reflexology for treating women with idiopathic constipation defined according to Rome II criteria.
- ✓The study measured multiple outcomes including subjective constipation perception, anxiety and depression levels, quality of life, gut transit time, and patients' views on complementary medicine before and after the intervention.
What This Means for You
While this small pilot study shows promising results for constipation relief with reflexology, the limited sample size means you should view these findings as preliminary and discuss reflexology with your doctor as a potential complement to conventional treatments.
What This Means for Practitioners
This pilot provides encouraging early evidence that reflexology may help constipation and emotional well-being in women, but larger controlled studies are needed to establish definitive effectiveness for your practice.
Study Design: how this pilot study was run
Reflexology for constipation: common questions
Does reflexology help with constipation?
While this small pilot study shows promising results for constipation relief with reflexology, the limited sample size means you should view these findings as preliminary and discuss reflexology with your doctor as a potential complement to conventional treatments.
What did this study find?
All 19 female participants with idiopathic constipation completed the six-week course of weekly reflexology treatment. This was the first study to evaluate the effectiveness of reflexology for treating women with idiopathic constipation defined according to Rome II criteria. The study measured multiple outcomes including subjective constipation perception, anxiety and depression levels, quality of life, gut transit time, and patients' views on complementary medicine before and after the intervention.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a pilot study and we rate its evidence preliminary. It covers 19 participants. It was published in Complementary therapies in clinical practice, a Q2 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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