A randomised-controlled trail examining the effects of reflexology of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
It is known that many patients with obstructive pulmonary diseases use a number of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). There has been a great deal of interest into the CAM recently, with the House of Lords select committee for science and technology's report suggesting randomised-controlled trials are the best means of researching the area. There is very little research into the effects of reflexology specifically on the effects it has on COPD. As such a randomised-controlled trial was set up to examine the effects of reflexology treatments on COPD. Results were qualitative and quantitative and showed that there are a number of areas of possible benefit for patients with COPD, but a larger scale study with a longer time frame is needed for a full evaluation of these effects.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found
- ✓A randomised-controlled trial found that reflexology treatment demonstrated potential benefits for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across both qualitative and quantitative measures.
- ✓The study identified multiple areas of possible benefit for COPD patients receiving reflexology, though the researchers concluded that larger-scale studies with longer time frames are necessary to fully evaluate these effects.
- ✓This research addressed a significant gap in evidence, as very little prior research had specifically examined the effects of reflexology on COPD despite many patients with obstructive pulmonary diseases using complementary and alternative medicines.
What This Means for You
Reflexology showed potential benefits for COPD in this study, but the evidence is still early-stage and a larger study is needed before drawing firm conclusions about its effectiveness.
What This Means for Practitioners
This RCT provides preliminary support for reflexology in COPD care, suggesting it may warrant inclusion in integrated respiratory treatment plans pending larger-scale validation.
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
Reflexology showed potential benefits for COPD in this study, but the evidence is still early-stage and a larger study is needed before drawing firm conclusions about its effectiveness.
What did this study find?
A randomised-controlled trial found that reflexology treatment demonstrated potential benefits for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across both qualitative and quantitative measures. The study identified multiple areas of possible benefit for COPD patients receiving reflexology, though the researchers concluded that larger-scale studies with longer time frames are necessary to fully evaluate these effects. This research addressed a significant gap in evidence, as very little prior research had specifically examined the effects of reflexology on COPD despite many patients with obstructive pulmonary diseases using complementary and alternative medicines.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. 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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