Effect of Reflexology Intervention on Stress Levels, Sleep Duration, Sucking Frequency, and Crying Episodes in Newborn Infants

Authors: Sarman Abdullah, Tuncay Suat, Ay AliJournal: Critical care nursing quarterlyDOI: 10.1097/CNQ.0000000000000567

Strong EvidenceRandomized Controlled Trialn=72 participants

In Plain Language: reflexology for stress, explained

Reflexology is an alternative treatment method that has been increasingly used in recent years. This study aimed to determine the effect of reflexology intervention on stress levels, sleep duration, sucking frequency, and crying episodes in newborn infants. This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. Using the block randomization method, 72 infants were included in the study (control = 36, experimental = 36). A demographic characteristics form, the Neonatal Stress Scale, and neonatal sleep duration, sucking frequency, and crying episodes form were used. Reflexology was applied to the left and right feet twice on the second day of the study, once in the morning and once in the evening. Within-group comparisons showed that the stress scale scores of infants in the experimental group decreased statistically significantly compared to the control group. One day before the intervention, sleep duration, sucking frequency, and crying episodes of the control and experimental group infants were similar. On the second and third days, when the intervention was applied twice, the sleep duration and sucking frequency increased, and the crying episodes decreased. Reflexology was found to decrease stress, crying episodes and increase sleep duration and sucking frequency in newborn infants.

Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about stress

✓Reflexology intervention significantly decreased stress scale scores in newborn infants in the experimental group compared to the control group.
✓The study was a randomized controlled trial with 72 newborn infants divided into control (n=36) and experimental (n=36) groups receiving reflexology applied to both feet twice daily.
✓Reflexology was administered on the second day of the study with two sessions per day (morning and evening) to assess effects on stress, sleep duration, sucking frequency, and crying episodes.

What This Means for You

This study suggests reflexology may help newborns with stress and sleep, though more research is needed to confirm these benefits in larger populations.

What This Means for Practitioners

This RCT provides evidence that reflexology applied twice daily to newborn feet can reduce stress markers and improve sleep and feeding behaviors, supporting its use as a complementary intervention in neonatal care.

Study Design: how this randomised trial was run

Sample Size

72 participants

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Reflexology for stress: common questions

Does reflexology help with stress?

This study suggests reflexology may help newborns with stress and sleep, though more research is needed to confirm these benefits in larger populations.

What did this study find?

Reflexology intervention significantly decreased stress scale scores in newborn infants in the experimental group compared to the control group. The study was a randomized controlled trial with 72 newborn infants divided into control (n=36) and experimental (n=36) groups receiving reflexology applied to both feet twice daily. Reflexology was administered on the second day of the study with two sessions per day (morning and evening) to assess effects on stress, sleep duration, sucking frequency, and crying episodes.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 72 participants. It was published in Critical care nursing quarterly. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.