Analgesic Effects of Reflexology in Patients Undergoing Surgical Procedures: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Strong EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
Inadequate treatment of pain in patients undergoing surgery is associated with unsatisfactory perioperative outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the role of reflexology in addition to standard analgesic treatment in postoperative pain management. This was a prospective, unblinded pragmatic controlled trial. Study participants included patients who were admitted to the general surgery department. Patients in the intervention group received reflexology while standard analgesic care was administered similarly in both groups. Pain intensity at rest and in motion was evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS [0-10]) at baseline, and 60-90 min after treatment. Pain reduction was clinically and statistically significant in the reflexology group, both for pain at rest (from mean VAS of 4.4 to 3.1, N = 77, p 4). Adding reflexology to standard analgesic care is effective in reducing postoperative pain at rest and in motion, especially for patients experiencing moderate to severe pain.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found
- ✓Reflexology combined with standard analgesic care significantly reduced postoperative pain at rest, decreasing mean pain scores from 4.4 to 3.1 on the visual analog scale.
- ✓Reflexology combined with standard analgesic care significantly reduced postoperative pain during movement, with clinically and statistically significant improvements observed.
- ✓Adding reflexology to standard analgesic treatment was particularly effective for patients experiencing higher baseline pain levels in the postoperative period.
What This Means for You
If you're facing surgery, reflexology combined with standard pain medication may help reduce your post-operative pain, particularly if you expect significant discomfort, though this is based on one controlled trial.
What This Means for Practitioners
This study provides evidence that reflexology can be offered as an adjunctive therapy to standard analgesic care for post-surgical patients, with greatest benefit for those experiencing moderate to severe pain.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
If you're facing surgery, reflexology combined with standard pain medication may help reduce your post-operative pain, particularly if you expect significant discomfort, though this is based on one controlled trial.
What did this study find?
Reflexology combined with standard analgesic care significantly reduced postoperative pain at rest, decreasing mean pain scores from 4.4 to 3.1 on the visual analog scale. Reflexology combined with standard analgesic care significantly reduced postoperative pain during movement, with clinically and statistically significant improvements observed. Adding reflexology to standard analgesic treatment was particularly effective for patients experiencing higher baseline pain levels in the postoperative period.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 77 participants. It was published in Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 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