The Effects of Aromatherapy Massage and Reflexology on Pain and Fatigue in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
Nonpharmacologic interventions for symptom management in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are underinvestigated. Limited data suggest that aromatherapy massage and reflexology may help to reduce pain and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to examine and compare the effects of aromatherapy massage and reflexology on pain and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study sample was randomly assigned to either an aromatherapy massage (n = 17), reflexology (n = 17) or the control group (n = 17). Aromatherapy massage was applied to both knees of subjects in the first intervention group for 30 minutes. Reflexology was administered to both feet of subjects in the second intervention group for 40 minutes during weekly home visits. Control group subjects received no intervention. Fifty-one subjects with rheumatoid arthritis were recruited from a university hospital rheumatology clinic in Turkey between July 2014 and January 2015 for this randomized controlled trial. Data were collected by personal information form, DAS28 index, Visual Analog Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale. Pain and fatigue scores were measured at baseline and within an hour after each intervention for 6 weeks. Pain and fatigue scores significantly decreased in the aromatherapy massage and reflexology groups compared with the control group (p < .05). The reflexology intervention started to decrease mean pain and fatigue scores earlier than aromatherapy massage (week 1 vs week 2 for pain, week 1 vs week 4 for fatigue) (p < .05). Aromatherapy massage and reflexology are simple and effective nonpharmacologic nursing interventions that can be used to help manage pain and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found
- ✓Both aromatherapy massage and reflexology were tested as nonpharmacologic interventions for reducing pain and fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- ✓Aromatherapy massage was applied to both knees for 30 minutes weekly, while reflexology was administered to both feet for 40 minutes weekly during home visits.
- ✓The study compared outcomes between an aromatherapy massage group (n=17), a reflexology group (n=17), and a control group (n=17) of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
What This Means for You
This study shows reflexology may help reduce pain and fatigue from rheumatoid arthritis, though the evidence is moderate and more research is needed to confirm these benefits.
What This Means for Practitioners
A 40-minute weekly reflexology session on the feet showed measurable pain and fatigue reduction in rheumatoid arthritis patients over 6 weeks, providing evidence-based support for this application in your practice.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
This study shows reflexology may help reduce pain and fatigue from rheumatoid arthritis, though the evidence is moderate and more research is needed to confirm these benefits.
What did this study find?
Both aromatherapy massage and reflexology were tested as nonpharmacologic interventions for reducing pain and fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Aromatherapy massage was applied to both knees for 30 minutes weekly, while reflexology was administered to both feet for 40 minutes weekly during home visits. The study compared outcomes between an aromatherapy massage group (n=17), a reflexology group (n=17), and a control group (n=17) of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 51 participants. It was published in Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses, a Q1 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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