Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour.

Authors: Caroline A Smith, Kate M Levett, Carmel T Collins, Hannah G Dahlen, Carolyn C Ee, Machiko SuganumaJournal: The Cochrane database of systematic reviewsPublished: April 27, 2018DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009290.pub3

Q1 JournalSJR: 4.8h-index: 291SCImago

Limited EvidenceSystematic Reviewn=1055 participants

Pregnancy Discomfort

In Plain Language: reflexology for pregnancy, explained

This study reviewed various non-pharmacological methods, such as reflexology and massage, for managing pain during labor. While some methods showed potential benefits, such as reduced pain intensity with massage, the overall evidence was inconclusive, indicating that more rigorous research is needed. These findings are important as they explore alternatives to medication for pain relief during childbirth.

Key Findings: what this systematic review found about pregnancy

✓Massage showed a greater reduction in pain intensity compared to usual care during the first stage of labor with a standardized mean difference of -0.81.
✓Low-quality evidence indicated massage patients experienced less anxiety during labor and an increased sense of control.
✓Few trials reported on reflexology, limiting conclusions about its effectiveness.

What This Means for You

For women considering reflexology during labor, this study suggests it might not be effective based on current evidence, as no trials specifically examined reflexology's benefits for labor pain management. Instead, methods like massage have shown some promise in reducing pain intensity.

What This Means for Practitioners

Reflexology practitioners should be cautious about relying on reflexology as a proven method for labor pain management. The evidence suggests exploring other manual therapies, like massage, that have demonstrated some effectiveness, while advocating for further research in reflexology.

Study Design: how this systematic review was run

Blinding

open label

Control

active

Duration

varied

Sample Size

1055 participants

Limitations: what it cannot tell you about pregnancy

The review included trials with high risks of bias and varying quality of evidence, particularly for reflexology, which resulted in inconclusive findings.

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Reflexology for pregnancy: common questions

Does reflexology help with pregnancy?

What did this study find?

Massage showed a greater reduction in pain intensity compared to usual care during the first stage of labor with a standardized mean difference of -0.81. Low-quality evidence indicated massage patients experienced less anxiety during labor and an increased sense of control. Few trials reported on reflexology, limiting conclusions about its effectiveness.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a systematic review and we rate its evidence limited. It covers 1,055 participants. It was published in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, a Q1 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.

What are the limitations of this study?

The review included trials with high risks of bias and varying quality of evidence, particularly for reflexology, which resulted in inconclusive findings.