Effect of foot reflexology on pain, anxiety, and physiological indices in leukemia patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration: A randomized clinical trial study

Q: Does reflexology help with anxiety?

If you're facing a bone marrow procedure, reflexology may help lower your blood pressure and reduce physical stress markers, though more research is needed to confirm benefits for pain and anxiety specifically.

Q: What did this study find?

Foot reflexology was evaluated as an intervention to reduce pain and anxiety in leukemia patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration procedures. The randomized clinical trial compared a 30-minute foot reflexology session against routine care in a control group, measuring outcomes using the Numeric Rating Scale for pain and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for anxiety. The study assessed physiological indices including systolic and diastolic blood pressure alongside pain and anxiety measures in leukemia patients receiving the reflexology intervention.

Q: How strong is this evidence?

This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 68 participants. It was published in Contemporary clinical trials communications. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.

Authors: Mehri Marjan, Golitaleb Mohamad, Safdari Ali, Madadi Sabah, Rafiei Fatemeh, Shahbazi Hossein, Mokhtari Razieh, Nejat NaziJournal: Contemporary clinical trials communicationsPublished: April 1, 2025DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2025.101427

Strong EvidenceRandomized Controlled Trialn=68 participants

Anxiety High Blood Pressure

In Plain Language: reflexology for anxiety, explained

Patients with leukemia undergoing bone marrow aspiration (BMA) frequently experience considerable pain and anxiety, which may negatively impact physiological outcomes. Reflexology, a complementary therapeutic approach, has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing pain and anxiety across various medical procedures. This randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the impact of foot reflexology on pain, anxiety, and physiological indices in leukemia patients undergoing BMA. This randomized clinical trial was conducted at Ayatollah Khansari Hospital in Arak between August 2021 and January 2023. Patients were randomly assigned to either a reflexology intervention group or a control group receiving routine care. The intervention group underwent a 30-min foot reflexology session. Pain was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and anxiety levels were measured via the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Physiological indices, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and arterial oxygen saturation, were measured before and after the intervention. Of the 72 patients, 68 completed the study (intervention: n = 35, control: n = 33). Post-intervention, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in systolic (p = 0.017) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.028), while the control group experienced no significant changes. Heart rate significantly increased in the control group (p = 0.030), but no significant change was observed in the intervention group (p = 0.977). Anxiety levels significantly decreased in the intervention group (p < 0.001), with a notable between-group difference (p = 0.006). Pain intensity was also significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = 0.034). Foot reflexology is an effective intervention for reducing pain and anxiety in leukemia patients undergoing BMA. Reflexology may be consid

Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about anxiety

✓Foot reflexology was evaluated as an intervention to reduce pain and anxiety in leukemia patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration procedures.
✓The randomized clinical trial compared a 30-minute foot reflexology session against routine care in a control group, measuring outcomes using the Numeric Rating Scale for pain and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for anxiety.
✓The study assessed physiological indices including systolic and diastolic blood pressure alongside pain and anxiety measures in leukemia patients receiving the reflexology intervention.

What This Means for You

If you're facing a bone marrow procedure, reflexology may help lower your blood pressure and reduce physical stress markers, though more research is needed to confirm benefits for pain and anxiety specifically.

What This Means for Practitioners

This RCT provides moderate evidence that a single 30-minute reflexology session can measurably reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hospitalized patients, supporting reflexology's use as a complementary intervention during medical procedures.

Study Design: how this randomised trial was run

Sample Size

68 participants

Read Full Paper↗

Reflexology for anxiety: common questions

Does reflexology help with anxiety?

What did this study find?

Foot reflexology was evaluated as an intervention to reduce pain and anxiety in leukemia patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration procedures. The randomized clinical trial compared a 30-minute foot reflexology session against routine care in a control group, measuring outcomes using the Numeric Rating Scale for pain and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for anxiety. The study assessed physiological indices including systolic and diastolic blood pressure alongside pain and anxiety measures in leukemia patients receiving the reflexology intervention.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 68 participants. It was published in Contemporary clinical trials communications. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.