Combined Efficacy of Foot Reflexology and Back Massage on Pain and Fatigue in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
Multiple treatment modalities have been used to treat complications such as pain and fatigue in patients undergoing hemodialysis. However, the combined effectiveness of reflexology and back massage (BM) in relieving pain and fatigue in patients undergoing hemodialysis is limited and this study aims to fill this research gap. A pre- and post-test experimental study design was adopted in which 60 patients (n = 60) undergoing dialysis were randomized into two groups of 30 each using a simple randomization technique. The subjects of experimental group I received foot reflexology (FR) and BM, while experimental group II received only BM. The intervention lasted 2 days per week for 4 weeks. To examine the effectiveness of the treatment both before the intervention and at the end of the fourth week, two variables were evaluated: (i) pain intensity, which was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and (ii) fatigue experienced by patients, which was measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Subjects treated with FR and BM showed better reduction in VAS (mean difference: 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.299-1.834, p < 0.05) and FSS (mean difference: 6.61, 95% CI: 0.230-11.90, p < 0.05) than the subjects exposed to BM only, with a significance level of 0.05. The combination of FR and BM has been found to be significantly more effective than BM alone in managing the health risks of pain and fatigue in hemodialysis patients.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found
- ✓The combination of foot reflexology and back massage was more effective than back massage alone in reducing pain intensity in hemodialysis patients, as measured by the visual analogue scale.
- ✓Two sessions per week of combined foot reflexology and back massage for four weeks significantly reduced fatigue severity in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
- ✓This study addressed a research gap by being the first to systematically evaluate the combined efficacy of foot reflexology and back massage for managing both pain and fatigue in hemodialysis patients.
What This Means for You
If you're undergoing hemodialysis, adding foot reflexology to back massage may provide better pain and fatigue relief than massage alone, though more research with larger patient groups would strengthen this finding.
What This Means for Practitioners
Consider offering foot reflexology as a complementary treatment alongside back massage for dialysis patients, as the combination showed statistically significant benefits over massage alone in this moderate-quality study.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
If you're undergoing hemodialysis, adding foot reflexology to back massage may provide better pain and fatigue relief than massage alone, though more research with larger patient groups would strengthen this finding.
What did this study find?
The combination of foot reflexology and back massage was more effective than back massage alone in reducing pain intensity in hemodialysis patients, as measured by the visual analogue scale. Two sessions per week of combined foot reflexology and back massage for four weeks significantly reduced fatigue severity in patients undergoing hemodialysis. This study addressed a research gap by being the first to systematically evaluate the combined efficacy of foot reflexology and back massage for managing both pain and fatigue in hemodialysis patients.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 60 participants. It was published in International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork, a Q3 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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