The effects of foot reflexology on back pain after coronary angiography: A randomized controlled trial
Strong EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
Back pain is among the most common complaints of patients during the first hours after coronary angiography (CA), i.e. when they are restricted to complete bed rest. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foot reflexology on back pain after CA. This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2018-2019 on patients hospitalized in the post-angiography unit of Razi hospital, Birjand, Iran. Through convenience sampling, 120 patients were recruited and their demographic characteristics and baseline back pain intensity were assessed immediately after angiography using a demographic questionnaire and a visual analogue scale, respectively. Then, patients were randomly allocated to a control (n = 60) and a reflexology (n = 60) group through block randomization. Patients in the reflexology group received 8-min foot reflexology for each foot (16 min for both feet) while their counterparts in the control group solely received routine post-angiography care services. Back pain assessment was repeated for all participants immediately, two, four, and 6 h after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software (v. 16.0). Back pain intensity significantly increased after angiography in both groups (P < 0.05). Yet, pain intensity in the reflexology group at all post-intervention measurement time points was significantly less than the control group (P < 0.001). Foot reflexology is effective in significantly reducing back pain after CA.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found
- ✓Foot reflexology was administered for 16 minutes total (8 minutes per foot) to patients in the intervention group during their post-coronary angiography bed rest period.
- ✓The study enrolled 120 patients who were randomly assigned to either a reflexology group (n=60) or a control group receiving routine care (n=60) in a randomized controlled trial design.
- ✓Back pain intensity was measured using a visual analogue scale immediately after coronary angiography and compared between the reflexology and control groups.
What This Means for You
If you're facing back pain after coronary angiography, this solid research suggests reflexology could provide meaningful relief, though you should discuss it with your medical team.
What This Means for Practitioners
A 16-minute foot reflexology session (8 minutes per foot) shows significant pain reduction in post-angiography patients, supporting reflexology's role as a valuable complementary intervention in clinical settings.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
If you're facing back pain after coronary angiography, this solid research suggests reflexology could provide meaningful relief, though you should discuss it with your medical team.
What did this study find?
Foot reflexology was administered for 16 minutes total (8 minutes per foot) to patients in the intervention group during their post-coronary angiography bed rest period. The study enrolled 120 patients who were randomly assigned to either a reflexology group (n=60) or a control group receiving routine care (n=60) in a randomized controlled trial design. Back pain intensity was measured using a visual analogue scale immediately after coronary angiography and compared between the reflexology and control groups.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 120 participants. It was published in Complementary therapies in clinical practice, a Q2 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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