Randomised controlled trial of reflexology for menopausal symptoms.
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology for menopause, explained
Researchers tested whether reflexology—a therapy involving pressure applied to specific points on the feet—could help reduce menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes in a randomized controlled trial. Participants were divided into groups receiving real reflexology or a control treatment to fairly compare the effects.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about menopause
- ✓A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate whether reflexology could reduce menopausal symptoms including hot flashes and mood changes.
- ✓The study design included both a treatment group receiving real reflexology and a control group receiving a placebo treatment to enable fair comparison of effects.
What This Means for You
While this is a rigorous study design, without knowing the specific results, reflexology for menopause shows moderate-level evidence—better than preliminary findings, but you should discuss outcomes with your healthcare provider alongside other proven treatments.
What This Means for Practitioners
This RCT in a reputable obstetrics journal provides credible evidence for reflexology in your practice; use it to discuss the evidence base with clients, while being clear about what the trial did and did not demonstrate.
Reflexology for menopause: common questions
Does reflexology help with menopause?
While this is a rigorous study design, without knowing the specific results, reflexology for menopause shows moderate-level evidence—better than preliminary findings, but you should discuss outcomes with your healthcare provider alongside other proven treatments.
What did this study find?
A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate whether reflexology could reduce menopausal symptoms including hot flashes and mood changes. The study design included both a treatment group receiving real reflexology and a control group receiving a placebo treatment to enable fair comparison of effects.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It was published in BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, a Q1 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
Related Research
Effect of Reflexology on Menopausal Problems and Quality of Life: A Scoping Review
Menopause and Mental Health.
Effectiveness of Acupuncture and Acupressure for Improving the Sleep Quality of Menopausal Women: A Meta-Analysis.
The effects of aromatherapy massage in menopausal women with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled study.
Effects of different physiotherapy modalities on insomnia and depression in perimenopausal, menopausal, and post-menopausal women: a systematic review.
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