A Randomized Controlled Trial: The Effect of Acupressure and Foot Reflexology on Pain During Heel-Lancing in Neonates.
Strong EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
A study investigated how effective acupressure and foot reflexology are in reducing pain during heel-lancing procedures in newborns. The results showed that both methods significantly lowered pain scores compared to a control group, suggesting these techniques could be useful in neonatal care.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found
- ✓The study included 105 neonates divided into three groups: foot reflexology, acupressure, and control.
- ✓Pain scores were significantly lower in the reflexology and acupressure groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05).
- ✓Pain scores in both the acupressure and foot reflexology groups were comparable.
What This Means for You
For parents considering reflexology for their newborns, this study indicates that reflexology can effectively reduce pain during procedures like heel lancing, offering a non-invasive option for managing their baby's discomfort.
What This Means for Practitioners
Reflexology practitioners can apply these findings by incorporating reflexology techniques during painful procedures for infants to help mitigate pain, enhancing their practice in pediatric care.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Limitations: what it cannot tell you
The study was limited to a specific hospital setting and the effects of reflexology and acupressure were only assessed during a single procedure, which may not generalize to other contexts.
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
For parents considering reflexology for their newborns, this study indicates that reflexology can effectively reduce pain during procedures like heel lancing, offering a non-invasive option for managing their baby's discomfort.
What did this study find?
The study included 105 neonates divided into three groups: foot reflexology, acupressure, and control. Pain scores were significantly lower in the reflexology and acupressure groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Pain scores in both the acupressure and foot reflexology groups were comparable.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 105 participants. It was published in Clinical nursing research, a Q1 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
What are the limitations of this study?
The study was limited to a specific hospital setting and the effects of reflexology and acupressure were only assessed during a single procedure, which may not generalize to other contexts.
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