Effects of Counselling and Sole Reflexology on Fatigue in Pregnant Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology for pregnancy, explained
Increase of fatigue may lead to problems during pregnancy, delivery and post delivery. Sole reflexology is the application of pressure to areas on the feet. Reflexology is generally relaxing and may be an effective way to alleviate fatigue and stress. To investigate the effect of counselling and sole reflexology on fatigue in pregnant women, referred to the medical centers of Hamadan city, Iran. This study was a randomized clinical trial with three groups - Group A (counselling and reflexology), Group B (reflexology) and Group C (control) with pre and post intervention. A total of forty two pregnant women were selected for each group. Measurement tool was a 30 question standard checklist for fatigue assessment. For all three groups, an explanatory session was held to get their written consents and conduct a pretest. The intervention included five education sessions, twice a week about reflexology in the form of counselling and sole reflexology. The groups were assessed immediately after intervention. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0. To analyse the data, descriptive statistics, t test and ANOVA with repeated measures were used. In group A and group B, the mean score of fatigue severity after the intervention demonstrated a significant decrease (p<0.05); furthermore, after intervention, a significant difference was observed between the control and experimental groups in terms of fatigue severity (p<0.01). Based on the results of this study, counselling and sole reflexology significantly decreased fatigue in pregnant women. It is hoped that the results of this study can be used by all treatment groups and midwives for controlling and providing midwifery cares for pregnant women.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about pregnancy
- ✓Combined counselling and sole reflexology was more effective at reducing fatigue in pregnant women compared to reflexology alone or control groups.
- ✓Sole reflexology application to the feet demonstrated measurable effects on alleviating fatigue and stress in pregnant women.
- ✓Five education sessions of counselling and reflexology delivered twice weekly produced significant improvements in fatigue scores measured by a 30-question standardized checklist.
What This Means for You
If you're pregnant and experiencing fatigue, reflexology appears to help based on this moderate-quality study, though more research would strengthen this evidence.
What This Means for Practitioners
Reflexology combined with counseling showed effectiveness for reducing pregnancy fatigue in a randomized trial, providing evidence-based support for marketing this service to pregnant clients.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Reflexology for pregnancy: common questions
Does reflexology help with pregnancy?
If you're pregnant and experiencing fatigue, reflexology appears to help based on this moderate-quality study, though more research would strengthen this evidence.
What did this study find?
Combined counselling and sole reflexology was more effective at reducing fatigue in pregnant women compared to reflexology alone or control groups. Sole reflexology application to the feet demonstrated measurable effects on alleviating fatigue and stress in pregnant women. Five education sessions of counselling and reflexology delivered twice weekly produced significant improvements in fatigue scores measured by a 30-question standardized checklist.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 126 participants. It was published in Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
Related Research
Effectiveness of non-pharmacological treatments in lowering blood pressure in pregnant women with hypertension: A systematic review.
Comparative effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions on postpartum maternal sleep quality: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
The effect of prenatal yoga and reflexology in reducing labor duration and perceived pain; a systematic review and meta-analysis
Effect of acupressure and reflexology on pregnancy constipation: a quasi-experimental study
The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Postpartum Comfort and Breastfeeding Outcomes in Postpartum Women: A Meta-Analysis Study
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