The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Acute Pain in Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Strong EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
This study was a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effect of foot reflexology applied on infants on acute pain that may arise after vaccine injection. The sample consisted of 1- to 12-month-old infants registered in a family health center in Istanbul, Turkey, for healthcare follow-up. A total of 60 infants who met the criteria of the sample group were included in the study; 30 infants constituted the reflexology group and the other 30 constituted the control group. Although questionnaire forms were used to determine the descriptive characteristics of infant-mother pairs, the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) Pain Assessment Scale was used to evaluate pain level. Infants in the reflexology group received reflexology treatment for an average of 20-30 minutes before vaccination, depending on the physical size of the infant's foot. Pain, heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, and crying periods of infants in the reflexology and control groups were evaluated before and after vaccination. The FLACC pain score was observed to be statistically similar between groups. After reflexology was applied to infants in the reflexology group before vaccination, it was determined that the pain score was reduced to .50 ± 1.14. In the examination performed after vaccination, FLACC pain score was found to be 5.47 ± 2.11 in the reflexology group and 9.63 ± .85 in the control group. A statistically significant difference was observed between the mean FLACC pain scores of infants in the reflexology and control groups (p = .000). The infants in the reflexology group also had lower heart rates, higher oxygen saturation, and shorter crying periods than the infants in the control group (p <.001). Reflexology before vaccine reduced the pain level experienced after vaccination. Future research needs to explore different interventional practices.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found
- ✓This randomized controlled trial evaluated foot reflexology as an intervention to reduce acute pain in infants aged 1-12 months following vaccine injection.
- ✓Infants receiving 20-30 minutes of reflexology treatment before vaccination showed reduced pain levels compared to the control group, as measured by the FLACC Pain Assessment Scale.
- ✓Reflexology treatment was associated with measurable physiological changes including reduced heart rate, maintained oxygen saturation, and decreased crying duration in vaccinated infants.
What This Means for You
If you're considering reflexology for your infant before vaccinations, this moderate-quality evidence suggests it may help reduce pain response, though the long-term benefits and optimal techniques remain unclear.
What This Means for Practitioners
This RCT provides supportive evidence that pre-vaccination foot reflexology in infants can meaningfully reduce post-vaccination pain scores, suggesting 20-30 minutes of treatment may be an effective complementary approach.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
If you're considering reflexology for your infant before vaccinations, this moderate-quality evidence suggests it may help reduce pain response, though the long-term benefits and optimal techniques remain unclear.
What did this study find?
This randomized controlled trial evaluated foot reflexology as an intervention to reduce acute pain in infants aged 1-12 months following vaccine injection. Infants receiving 20-30 minutes of reflexology treatment before vaccination showed reduced pain levels compared to the control group, as measured by the FLACC Pain Assessment Scale. Reflexology treatment was associated with measurable physiological changes including reduced heart rate, maintained oxygen saturation, and decreased crying duration in vaccinated infants.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 60 participants. It was published in Worldviews on evidence-based nursing. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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