The effects of foot reflexology on pain and physiological indicators in children with leukemia under chemotherapy: a clinical trial study

Authors: Ghaljaei Fereshteh, Jalalodini AliaJournal: Reports of practical oncology and radiotherapy : journal of Greatpoland Cancer Center in Poznan and Polish Society of Radiation OncologyPublished: January 1, 2021DOI: 10.5603/RPOR.a2021.0116

Moderate EvidenceRandomized Controlled Trialn=80 participants

High Blood Pressure Chemotherapy Side Effects

In Plain Language: reflexology for high blood pressure, explained

Foot reflexology is a popular complementary medicine method; however, previous studies have shown conflicting results. This study aimed to investigate the impact of foot reflexology on pain and physiological responses caused by intrathecal injection of chemotherapy drugs in children with leukemia. This clinical trial included 80 children with leukemia. The participants received 20 min foot reflexology (10 min each foot). The primary measured outcomes included pain and physiological indicators (blood pressure and heart rate). The results showed that foot reflexology had a significant effect on reducing pain (p = 0.002) and improving physiological indicators [blood pressure (p = 0.002) and heart rate (p = 0.003)]. Based on the results of the present study, which shows the positive effect of foot reflexology on the improvement of pain and physiological indicators, foot reflexology can be used as a complementary treatment along with conventional therapies.

Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about high blood pressure

✓Foot reflexology significantly reduced pain in children with leukemia undergoing intrathecal chemotherapy injection (p = 0.002).
✓Foot reflexology improved physiological indicators including blood pressure (p = 0.002) and heart rate (p = 0.003) in pediatric leukemia patients.
✓A 20-minute foot reflexology session (10 minutes per foot) can be used as a complementary treatment alongside conventional chemotherapy in children with leukemia.

What This Means for You

This moderate-quality study suggests foot reflexology may help reduce chemotherapy-related pain and calm the body's stress response in children, though more research is needed to confirm these benefits.

What This Means for Practitioners

This clinical trial provides evidence that 20-minute foot reflexology sessions can measurably reduce pain and improve physiological stability in pediatric leukemia patients, supporting its use as a complementary therapy alongside conventional treatment.

Study Design: how this randomised trial was run

Sample Size

80 participants

Read Full Paper↗

Reflexology for high blood pressure: common questions

Does reflexology help with high blood pressure?

What did this study find?

Foot reflexology significantly reduced pain in children with leukemia undergoing intrathecal chemotherapy injection (p = 0.002). Foot reflexology improved physiological indicators including blood pressure (p = 0.002) and heart rate (p = 0.003) in pediatric leukemia patients. A 20-minute foot reflexology session (10 minutes per foot) can be used as a complementary treatment alongside conventional chemotherapy in children with leukemia.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 80 participants. It was published in Reports of practical oncology and radiotherapy : journal of Greatpoland Cancer Center in Poznan and Polish Society of Radiation Oncology. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.