The effects of reflexology on chronic low back pain intensity in nurses employed in hospitals affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology for lower back pain, explained
Humans have been involved with the phenomena of pain and pain relief from the ancient times. Back pain is the most common pain. In fact, eight out of ten people experience it in their lifetime. However, individuals with specific jobs, including nurses, are faced with this problem more. Nursing is in the top ten careers suffering from the most severe musculoskeletal injuries. There are non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments to relieve back pain. One of the non-medical treatments of pain is called reflexology which is a branch of complementary and alternative therapies. This research has been conducted to investigate the effect of reflexology on chronic low back pain intensity. This study was a double-blind clinical trial. The study population consisted of 50 female and male nurses suffering from chronic low back pain working in hospitals affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The participants were divided into two groups of reflexology and non-specific massage. A questionnaire was completed through interviews and a 40 minute sessions of interventions were performed three times a week for two weeks. Pain intensity was measured by Numerical Analogue Scale for pain before and after the intervention. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent t-test and chi-square test, were used to analyze the data. The results showed a significantly higher reduction in pain intensity scores in the reflexology group after the intervention as compared with the non-specific massage group. However, the non-specific massage was also significantly effective in reducing pain. Reflexology can be effective in reducing the severity of chronic back pain, i.e. it is able to reduce pain from moderate to mild. Thus, this technique is recommended to be performed by nurses as a complementary therapy in patient care.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about lower back pain
- ✓The study was a double-blind clinical trial comparing reflexology to non-specific massage in 50 nurses with chronic low back pain.
- ✓Nursing ranks among the top ten careers with the most severe musculoskeletal injuries, with eight out of ten people experiencing back pain in their lifetime.
- ✓Reflexology was investigated as a non-pharmacologic complementary and alternative therapy for managing chronic low back pain intensity in hospital nurses.
What This Means for You
This study suggests reflexology may help reduce chronic lower back pain more effectively than general massage, though the evidence comes from a moderately-sized trial and would benefit from larger studies to confirm.
What This Means for Practitioners
This moderate-quality evidence supports reflexology as a non-pharmacologic intervention for chronic low back pain in occupational groups like nursing, validating its potential role in pain management protocols.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Reflexology for lower back pain: common questions
Does reflexology help with lower back pain?
This study suggests reflexology may help reduce chronic lower back pain more effectively than general massage, though the evidence comes from a moderately-sized trial and would benefit from larger studies to confirm.
What did this study find?
The study was a double-blind clinical trial comparing reflexology to non-specific massage in 50 nurses with chronic low back pain. Nursing ranks among the top ten careers with the most severe musculoskeletal injuries, with eight out of ten people experiencing back pain in their lifetime. Reflexology was investigated as a non-pharmacologic complementary and alternative therapy for managing chronic low back pain intensity in hospital nurses.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 50 participants. It was published in Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research, a Q1 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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