The effect of foot reflexology and back massage on hemodialysis patients' fatigue and sleep quality

Q: Does reflexology help with sleep?

If you're a hemodialysis patient struggling with fatigue and poor sleep, this moderate-quality study suggests foot reflexology may help more than back massage, though more rigorous research is needed to confirm the benefit.

Q: What did this study find?

Foot reflexology and back massage administered twice weekly for four weeks significantly reduced fatigue in hemodialysis patients (p < 0.001). Foot reflexology and back massage administered twice weekly for four weeks significantly improved sleep quality in hemodialysis patients (p < 0.001). Foot reflexology was more effective than back massage at improving sleep quality and reducing fatigue in hemodialysis patients.

Q: How strong is this evidence?

This is a observational study and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 105 participants. It was published in Complementary therapies in clinical practice, a Q2 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.

Authors: Unal Kevser Sevgi, Balci Akpinar RevaJournal: Complementary therapies in clinical practicePublished: August 1, 2016DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.06.004

Q2 JournalSJR: 0.65h-index: 72SCImago

Moderate EvidenceObservationaln=105 participants

Insomnia

In Plain Language: reflexology for sleep, explained

The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of foot reflexology and back massage on optimizing the sleep quality and reducing the fatigue of hemodialysis patients. The study includes 105 volunteer patients who were registered at a private dialysis clinic and were receiving hemodialysis treatment. Foot reflexology and back massage were administered to the patients two times a week for four weeks. The Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index were used to collect data. The differences between the pretest and posttest score averages of the patients on the Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Foot reflexology and back massage were shown to improve the sleep quality and reduce the fatigue of hemodialysis patients. Compared to back massage, foot reflexology was determined to be more effective.

Key Findings: what this observational study found about sleep

✓Foot reflexology and back massage administered twice weekly for four weeks significantly reduced fatigue in hemodialysis patients (p < 0.001).
✓Foot reflexology and back massage administered twice weekly for four weeks significantly improved sleep quality in hemodialysis patients (p < 0.001).
✓Foot reflexology was more effective than back massage at improving sleep quality and reducing fatigue in hemodialysis patients.

What This Means for You

If you're a hemodialysis patient struggling with fatigue and poor sleep, this moderate-quality study suggests foot reflexology may help more than back massage, though more rigorous research is needed to confirm the benefit.

What This Means for Practitioners

This study provides moderate evidence that foot reflexology combined with back massage can reduce fatigue and improve sleep in dialysis patients, with reflexology appearing more effective than massage alone.

Study Design: how this observational study was run

Sample Size

105 participants

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Reflexology for sleep: common questions

Does reflexology help with sleep?

What did this study find?

Foot reflexology and back massage administered twice weekly for four weeks significantly reduced fatigue in hemodialysis patients (p < 0.001). Foot reflexology and back massage administered twice weekly for four weeks significantly improved sleep quality in hemodialysis patients (p < 0.001). Foot reflexology was more effective than back massage at improving sleep quality and reducing fatigue in hemodialysis patients.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a observational study and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 105 participants. It was published in Complementary therapies in clinical practice, a Q2 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.