Effect of Foot Reflexology as an Add-on Intervention on Pain Among Women Having Undergone Mastectomy
Limited EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
A single group quasi-experimental study was conducted among 40 women on the flrst day after they underwent mastectomy. Subjects were selected by convenience sampling technique. A single sessionfoot reflexology was administered among post-mastectomy women. Pain was assessed at baseline, post-test I (immediately after foot reflexology) and post-test II (30 minutes after foot reflexology). The findings revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the pain scores at baseline and both the post-tests (t (39) = 2.9, p <0.05 and t ,(39)= - 4.418, p < 0.05). A statistically significant reduction in physiologic parameters was also observed from the baseline (systolic BP at post-test I (t(39) = 2.470, p < 0.05).
Key Findings: what this observational study found
- ✓A single session of foot reflexology produced statistically significant pain reduction in post-mastectomy women immediately after treatment and at 30 minutes follow-up compared to baseline (p < 0.05).
- ✓Foot reflexology as an add-on intervention resulted in statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure at the immediate post-treatment assessment (p < 0.05).
- ✓The study demonstrates that foot reflexology can be an effective complementary intervention for managing acute post-surgical pain in women following mastectomy.
What This Means for You
A single reflexology session may reduce pain after mastectomy, though this finding comes from a small study without a control group, so more research is needed to confirm effectiveness.
What This Means for Practitioners
Foot reflexology appears to have measurable effects on post-mastectomy pain and blood pressure in this population, providing preliminary support for its use as a complementary therapy in post-surgical care.
Study Design: how this observational study was run
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
A single reflexology session may reduce pain after mastectomy, though this finding comes from a small study without a control group, so more research is needed to confirm effectiveness.
What did this study find?
A single session of foot reflexology produced statistically significant pain reduction in post-mastectomy women immediately after treatment and at 30 minutes follow-up compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Foot reflexology as an add-on intervention resulted in statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure at the immediate post-treatment assessment (p < 0.05). The study demonstrates that foot reflexology can be an effective complementary intervention for managing acute post-surgical pain in women following mastectomy.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a observational study and we rate its evidence limited. It covers 40 participants. It was published in The Nursing journal of India. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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