The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Hospital Anxiety and Depression in Female Older Adults: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors: Bahrami Tahereh, Rejeh Nahid, Heravi-Karimooi Majideh, Tadrisi Seyed Davood, Vaismoradi MojtabaJournal: International journal of therapeutic massage & bodyworkPublished: September 1, 2019

Q3 JournalSJR: 0.25h-index: 18

Strong EvidenceRandomized Controlled Trialn=90 participants

Anxiety Depression

In Plain Language: reflexology for anxiety, explained

Patients with cardiovascular diseases usually suffer from hospital anxiety and depression. This study aimed to investigate the effect of foot reflexology massage on anxiety and depression in female older adults suffering from acute coronary syndrome. Ninety older women with acute coronary syndrome were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups (n=45 in each group). A randomized controlled trial. The intervention and control groups received foot reflexology massage and routine care, respectively. The levels of anxiety and depression were evaluated using the hospital's anxiety and depression scale (HADS) before and immediately after foot reflexology massage. Foot reflexology massage reduced both anxiety (F(1.44)=19.11, p = .001) and depression (F(1.44)=16.76, p = .001) in acute coronary patients relative to control patients. The intervention had a large effect on hospital anxiety and depression. Foot reflexology massage is an efficient and safe intervention for alleviating psychological responses among female older adults suffering from acute coronary syndrome during hospitalization.

Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about anxiety

✓Foot reflexology massage significantly reduced anxiety in female older adults with acute coronary syndrome compared to routine care alone (F(1.44)=19.11, p = .001).
✓Foot reflexology massage significantly reduced depression in female older adults with acute coronary syndrome compared to routine care alone (F(1.44)=16.76, p = .001).
✓Foot reflexology massage demonstrated a large effect size on reducing both hospital anxiety and depression in acute coronary patients.

What This Means for You

If you're an older woman hospitalized with heart disease, foot reflexology massage may meaningfully reduce anxiety and depression according to this well-designed study, though more research in diverse populations would strengthen the evidence.

What This Means for Practitioners

This RCT provides solid evidence that foot reflexology can be an effective, safe intervention for reducing hospital anxiety and depression in older female cardiac patients, supporting its use as a complementary therapy in clinical settings.

Study Design: how this randomised trial was run

Sample Size

90 participants

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Reflexology for anxiety: common questions

Does reflexology help with anxiety?

What did this study find?

Foot reflexology massage significantly reduced anxiety in female older adults with acute coronary syndrome compared to routine care alone (F(1.44)=19.11, p = .001). Foot reflexology massage significantly reduced depression in female older adults with acute coronary syndrome compared to routine care alone (F(1.44)=16.76, p = .001). Foot reflexology massage demonstrated a large effect size on reducing both hospital anxiety and depression in acute coronary patients.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 90 participants. It was published in International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork, a Q3 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.