Revisiting reflexology: Concept, evidence, current practice, and practitioner training
Limited EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
Reflexology is basically a study of how one part of the human body relates to another part of the body. Reflexology practitioners rely on the reflexes map of the feet and hands to all the internal organs and other human body parts. They believe that by applying the appropriate pressure and massage certain spots on the feet and hands, all other body parts could be energized and rejuvenated. This review aimed to revisit the concept of reflexology and examine its effectiveness, practices, and the training for reflexology practitioners. PubMed, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and SpringerLink databases were utilized to search the following medical subject headings or keywords: foot massage, reflexology, foot reflexotherapy, reflexological treatment, and zone therapy. The articles published for the last 10 years were included. Previous systematic reviews failed to show concrete evidence for any specific effect of reflexology in any conditions. Due to its non-invasive, non-pharmacological complementary nature, reflexology is widely accepted and anecdotal evidence of positive effect reflexology in a variety of health conditions are available. Adequate training for practitioners is necessary to ensure the consistency of service provided.
Key Findings: what this systematic review found
- ✓Previous systematic reviews have failed to demonstrate concrete evidence that reflexology produces specific therapeutic effects for any particular medical condition.
- ✓Reflexology is based on the principle that applying pressure to specific reflex points on the feet and hands can energize and rejuvenate corresponding internal organs and body parts.
- ✓Reflexology is a non-invasive, non-pharmacological complementary treatment approach that lacks established practitioner training standards.
What This Means for You
Reflexology is a safe, non-invasive therapy that many people report feeling better after, but current research doesn't confirm it effectively treats specific medical conditions.
What This Means for Practitioners
Invest in formal, standardized training to build client trust and ensure consistent service quality, since scientific evidence for specific health claims remains insufficient.
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
Reflexology is a safe, non-invasive therapy that many people report feeling better after, but current research doesn't confirm it effectively treats specific medical conditions.
What did this study find?
Previous systematic reviews have failed to demonstrate concrete evidence that reflexology produces specific therapeutic effects for any particular medical condition. Reflexology is based on the principle that applying pressure to specific reflex points on the feet and hands can energize and rejuvenate corresponding internal organs and body parts. Reflexology is a non-invasive, non-pharmacological complementary treatment approach that lacks established practitioner training standards.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a systematic review and we rate its evidence limited. It was published in Journal of traditional and complementary medicine. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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