Nasal irrigation for the alleviation of sinonasal symptoms
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language
To determine the effect of nasal irrigation on sinonasal symptoms. A total of 150 adult subjects with chronic sinusitis symptoms were recruited from the community and assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: nasal irrigation with bulb syringe, nasal irrigation with nasal irrigation pot, or control treatment with reflexology massage. Groups 1 and 2 performed daily hypertonic saline irrigation with 1 device for 2 weeks and then with the other device for 2 weeks. Group 3 performed reflexology massage daily for 2 weeks. Prospective data collected included pretreatment Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, pretreatment and posttreatment Rhinosinusitis Outcomes Measure, daily medication use, subjective treatment efficacy, and preference of irrigation method. There was a significant and equivalent improvement in Rhinosinusitis Outcomes Measure 31 score after 2 weeks of intervention in each treatment group; 35% of subjects reported decreased use of sinus medication. Daily nasal irrigation using either a bulb syringe, nasal irrigation pot, and daily reflexology massage were equally efficacious and resulted in improvement in the symptoms of chronic sinusitis in over 70% of subjects. Medication usage was decreased in approximately one third of participants regardless of intervention.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found
- ✓All three treatment groups (bulb syringe irrigation, nasal irrigation pot, and reflexology massage) showed significant and equivalent improvements in Rhinosinusitis Outcomes Measure scores after 2 weeks of daily intervention.
- ✓Approximately 35% of the 150 subjects with chronic sinusitis symptoms reported decreased use of sinus medication following their assigned treatment.
- ✓Both nasal irrigation devices (bulb syringe and nasal irrigation pot) using hypertonic saline produced comparable symptom improvement when used daily for 2-week periods.
What This Means for You
While this study found reflexology massage helped sinusitis symptoms as much as nasal irrigation, the evidence is moderate quality and reflexology was not tested against a true placebo, so benefits may partly reflect general attention and self-care.
What This Means for Practitioners
This peer-reviewed study provides moderate evidence that daily reflexology massage may help alleviate chronic sinusitis symptoms, comparable to nasal irrigation devices, which can support conversations with clients about complementary approaches to sinus health.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
While this study found reflexology massage helped sinusitis symptoms as much as nasal irrigation, the evidence is moderate quality and reflexology was not tested against a true placebo, so benefits may partly reflect general attention and self-care.
What did this study find?
All three treatment groups (bulb syringe irrigation, nasal irrigation pot, and reflexology massage) showed significant and equivalent improvements in Rhinosinusitis Outcomes Measure scores after 2 weeks of daily intervention. Approximately 35% of the 150 subjects with chronic sinusitis symptoms reported decreased use of sinus medication following their assigned treatment. Both nasal irrigation devices (bulb syringe and nasal irrigation pot) using hypertonic saline produced comparable symptom improvement when used daily for 2-week periods.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 150 participants. It was published in Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.
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