Effects of reflexology on child health: A systematic review
Strong EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
It is known that the parents of one of every two children who need health care seek at least one complementary health-care approach. Reflexology, which is one of these, increases well-being while maintaining the continuity of homeostasis. As studies with children are limited, there is a need for evidence that includes the positive as well as the negative effects of reflexology that can be transferred to clinical practice and recommendations for future studies. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of reflexology on child health by systematically summarizing the results obtained. In this study, which was structured as a systematic review, data were obtained by scanning CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Academic Search Complete, WoS, Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, and ProQuest. According to MeSH terminology, (zone therapy OR reflexology OR foot massage OR hand massage) AND (pediatrics OR child OR infant OR baby) were used. Randomized controlled studies (RCTs), systematic reviews, and meta-analyses conducted with a pediatric population and accessible in English and full text up to 07.08.2019 (with no time limitation) were included. Exclusion criteria for the present study included applying a massage procedure different from reflexology, the inclusion of an adult sample, or publication of the article in a predatory journal. The Cochrane guidelines (Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.2.0, 2017) were applied and the article reported on according to the PRISMA checklist. In all six of the RCTs, which included a total of 277 infants and children, the only method used was foot reflexology. Regarding the results of nine investigated outcomes, reflexology was found to be effective in infancy for reducing pain level and regulating heart rate, for increasing oxygen saturation, for relieving infantile colic symptoms, and neonatal abstinence symptoms. Reflexology was also found to decrease spasticity and improve motor skills in children with cerebral
Key Findings: what this systematic review found
- ✓Approximately 50% of parents of children requiring health care seek at least one complementary health-care approach, with reflexology being one such option.
- ✓Reflexology is proposed to increase well-being while maintaining homeostasis in children, though evidence for its clinical effectiveness remains limited.
- ✓Current research on reflexology in pediatric populations is insufficient, creating a need for systematic evidence synthesis to inform clinical practice and guide future research.
What This Means for You
Reflexology may support your child's well-being based on current evidence, but the research is still developing—discuss it with your pediatrician before starting treatment.
What This Means for Practitioners
As a reflexologist working with children, recognize that systematic evidence is still limited; continue documenting outcomes and stay informed as the research base grows.
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
Reflexology may support your child's well-being based on current evidence, but the research is still developing—discuss it with your pediatrician before starting treatment.
What did this study find?
Approximately 50% of parents of children requiring health care seek at least one complementary health-care approach, with reflexology being one such option. Reflexology is proposed to increase well-being while maintaining homeostasis in children, though evidence for its clinical effectiveness remains limited. Current research on reflexology in pediatric populations is insufficient, creating a need for systematic evidence synthesis to inform clinical practice and guide future research.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a systematic review and we rate its evidence strong. It was published in Complementary therapies in medicine, a Q2 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
Looking for a reflexologist?
Find practitioners who can help with the conditions studied in this research.
Find a Reflexologist