Reflexology Research & Science
Does reflexology work? The honest answer from 808 peer-reviewed studies: the evidence is mixed and mostly early-stage. 245 are randomized controlled trials and 221 are systematic reviews or meta-analyses. The strongest signals are for relaxation, anxiety, and pain, not for curing disease. Every study is below, graded by evidence strength and pulled from PubMed.
808 studies · page 23 of 68
A randomized clinical trial on the effect of foot reflexology performed in the fourth stage of labor on uterine afterpain.
A study investigated the impact of foot reflexology on uterine afterpains among women who had just given birth. The findings indicated that women who received reflexology experienced significantly lower pain scores at three and four hours postpartum compared to those who only received a general massage. This suggests reflexology could be an effective non-drug treatment option for alleviating afterpains, which is important for postpartum care.
moderate evidence
Q2 JournalEffect of foot reflexology on chronic pain in Parkinson's disease: A randomized controlled trial.
A study investigated the effects of foot reflexology on pain in patients with Parkinson's disease. It found that while both reflexology and sham massage reduced pain levels, there was no significant difference in effectiveness between the two treatments. This highlights the need for further research into effective pain management strategies for Parkinson's patients.
Comparison of manual therapy and exercise therapy in osteoarthritis of the hip: a randomized clinical trial.
This study investigated the effectiveness of manual therapy compared to exercise therapy for treating patients with osteoarthritis of the hip. The researchers found that those who received manual therapy experienced significantly better outcomes in terms of pain relief and hip function. This matters because it suggests that manual therapy may be a more effective treatment option for people suffering from this condition.
Massage in supportive cancer care.
A recent study reviewed the use of massage therapy for cancer patients, focusing on its safety and effectiveness in supportive care. The findings highlight an increasing acceptance of massage as a beneficial treatment that can enhance the quality of life for patients dealing with cancer. This research is significant because it suggests that integrating massage into cancer care can help address both physical and emotional needs.
The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in pregnancy: data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)
To report the frequency of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use by a population of pregnant women in the UK. Four postal self-completion questionnaires completed at 8, 12, 18 and 32 weeks' gestation provided the source of CAMs used. Questions asked for written descriptions about the use of any treatments, pills, medicines, ointments, homeopathic medicines, herbal medicines, supplements, drinks and herbal teas. An observational, population-based, cohort study of parents and children of 14,541 pregnant women residing within the former county of Avon in south-west England. Data was available for 14,115 women. Over a quarter (26.7%; n=3774) of women had used a CAM at least once in pregnancy, the use rising from 6% in the 1st trimester to 12.4% in the 2nd to 26.3% in the 3rd. Herbal teas were the most commonly reported CAM at any time in pregnancy (17.7%; n=2499) followed by homeopathic medicine (14.4%; n=2038) and then herbal medicine (5.8%; n=813). The most commonly used herbal product was chamomile used by 14.6% of women, the most commonly used homeopathic product was Arnica used by 3.1% of women. Other CAMs (osteopathy, aromatherapy, acupuncture/acupressure, Chinese herbal medicine, chiropractic, cranial sacral therapy, hypnosis, non-specific massage and reflexology) accounted for less than 1% of users. CAM use in pregnancy, where a wide range of CAMs has been assessed, has not been widely reported. Studies that have been conducted report varying results to this study (26.7%) by between 13.3% and 87% of pregnant women. Survey results will be affected by a number of factors namely the inclusion/exclusion of vitamins and minerals, the timing of data collection, the country of source, the number of women surveyed, and the different selection criteria of either recruiting women to the study or of categorising and identifying a CAM treatment or product.
Acupuncture and Reflexology for Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Cohort Study
Around three quarters of individuals undergoing chemotherapy self-report multiple symptoms. There is clinical trial evidence of effectiveness for acupuncture for commonly experienced symptoms, and emerging evidence for reflexology, but little is known about the effects of these therapies on multiple symptoms when implemented in a real world setting during active chemotherapy treatment. This was a cohort study of participants receiving reflexology and/or acupuncture while attending chemotherapy. Participants received a 20 minute reflexology treatment or a 20 minute acupuncture treatment or a combination of both. Patient reported outcome measures were administered before and after the treatment using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS). During the study period, 330 unique patients received a total of 809 acupuncture and/or reflexology treatments. Participants had, on average, 5.3 symptoms each which they reported as moderate to severe (≥4/10) using the ESAS at baseline. Following treatment, participants reported 3.2 symptoms as moderate to severe. The symptom change for all participant encounters receiving any therapy was statistically significant for all symptoms, and clinically significant (a reduction of more than 1) for all symptoms except financial distress, appetite, and memory. Clinically significant levels of global distress (<3) were reduced in 72% of all participants receiving either therapy. No adverse events were recorded. The results indicate that acupuncture and reflexology administered alongside chemotherapy may reduce patient reported symptom burden and patient global symptom related distress. Future research would include an active control group, and consider confounding factors such as chemotherapy stage and medication.
A Retrospective Cohort Study Exploring The Relationship Between Antenatal Reflexology And Intranatal Outcomes.
| This study of 150 low risk (no medical or obstetric complications) women in their first pregnancy was divided into two groups. Fifty received reflexology, and the rest were in a control group that received no reflexology. The number of reflexology sessions differed from one to 4 or more, and the women had been referred for reflexology for backache, constipation, pelvic arthropy or were women who wished to avoid interventions during labor. There was no difference in the primary outcome of interest in the study—onset of labor—between the two groups. Conclusion: | Further research is needed in this area in which reflexology is applied for more sessions and in a more uniform matter.
Development and validation of a tool to evaluate Inpatient Beliefs, Expectations and Attitudes toward Reflexology (IBEAR-16)
The integration of manual therapies, including reflexology, into conventional care settings is growing extensively. Patients' beliefs, attitudes and expectations toward these therapies interact with their outcomes, but currently there are no validated tools to evaluate these factors. We aimed to design and to validate such a tool specifically targeted into reflexology. Following input of a multidisciplinary team of experts, the self-administered Inpatient Beliefs, Expectations and Attitudes toward Reflexology (IBEAR) questionnaire was constructed, containing 25 items, 8 referring to demographics and 17 specifically addressing reflexology. Cronbach's alpha was computed to evaluate the questionnaire's internal reliability, and factor analysis was used for further validation (232 patients). Pearson coefficient and Kappa tests were used to test and retest (within 48 hours) the questionnaire on a group of 199 patients, to assure clarity and reliability. For the 232 questionnaires collected, the computed Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.716 (acceptable reliability). Factor analysis pointed to two content areas separated into four items addressing attitudes and expectations and five items focusing on beliefs and attitudes. In the test-retest stage, 199 participants filled in the questionnaire for a second time. The Pearson coefficient for all questions ranged between 0.73 and 0.94 (good to excellent correlation) and Kappa scores ranged between 0.66 and 1.0 (moderate to high reliability). Consequently, one of the questions was removed from the IBEAR. The present study provides evidence that the proposed IBEAR questionnaire with 16 items is a valid and reliable tool for evaluation of inpatients' beliefs, expectations and attitudes toward reflexology.
Midwives knowledge and education/training in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM): A national survey
Despite the proliferation of research exploring complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in maternity care and midwifery practice, there is a gap on midwives' level of CAM knowledge and education/training. This national survey investigated Australian midwives' knowledge and education/training in CAM. A total of 571 midwives completed the survey (16%). Over half (54.3%) had some level of CAM education/training (self-learning to diploma) and with multiple CAM modalities. The top four modalities that midwives had received education/training were acupressure (66.5%), aromatherapy (60.3%), massage (45.5%), and reflexology (37.7%). There was a significant correlation between midwives attending a CAM workshop with competency-assessment (p < 0.000) and confidence to discuss CAM options with pregnant women compared with participants who have not. There are no other health-related therapies used by women consumers with such frequency where clinicians are not expected to have baseline knowledge and understanding. Midwifery education programs need to include evidence-based information on CAM modalities.
The use of complementary and alternative medicine in an Irish cohort of people with an iatrogenic hepatitis C infection: results from a health and lifestyle survey
A cohort of people with iatrogenic HCV infection, current or resolved, in Ireland have access to primary and secondary health care services, including specified complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services, free of charge. Information about their pattern of CAM usage and its association with various demographic and lifestyle factors, and current HCV status, was sought as part of a health and lifestyle survey, in order to provide information for health service planning. The survey was carried out by self-administered postal questionnaire. The level of CAM usage was compared to an age- and sex-matched sample of the general population. The response was 48% (720/1485). Compared to the general population, the HCV population was significantly more likely to have attended a CAM practitioner (50.1% vs 23.9%, OR 3.2; 95% CI 2.7-3.9). Within the HCV population, multivariate analysis showed that females (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.9-4.9), those who reported fibromyalgia (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.8-3.9) and those who reported anxiety (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0-2.0) were significantly more likely to have used CAM, and smokers significantly less likely (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4-0.8). CAM attendance did not vary by current HCV status. Reflexology, acupuncture and massage were the most commonly used forms of CAM. This study demonstrates that CAM services are used by a high proportion of people with iatrogenic chronic HCV. A more holistic approach to health care, using a biopsychosocial model framework, may better meet the physical and psychological health needs of this group.
Nurses' use of non-pharmacological pain management methods in intensive care units: A descriptive cross-sectional study
Pain is a common and unpleasant feeling among patients in intensive care units. Therefore, the use of proper pain management methods, such as non-pharmacological interventions, is a priority in intensive care units. This study aimed to ascertain the extent of the use of non-pharmacological pain management methods by intensive care unit nurses in Iran and to identify the obstacles that hindered the use of these methods. This study used a descriptive cross-sectional design which involved a convenience sample of 224 nurses who worked in 16 intensive care units across northern Iran. Data were collected using the non-pharmacological pain management questionnaire and a researcher-developed checklist of the obstacles that hindered the use of non-pharmacological pain management methods. A moderate number of ICU nurses used non-pharmacological pain management methods (55.8 %). The most common method used by nurses was repositioning (M = 2.72), while methods such as acupuncture and reflexology were used less frequently. Furthermore, the most common obstacles to the use of non-pharmacological pain management methods were nurses' fatigue (M = 2.92) and multiple responsibilities (M = 2.91). Demographic variables such as age, gender, educational level, and work experience were not significantly associated with the use of non-pharmacological pain management methods. Due to factors such as fatigue, multiple responsibilities, a heavy workload, and an insufficient number of nurses per shift, the rate of utilization of non-pharmacological pain management methods among intensive care unit nurses in Iran was low. Furthermore, most of the participants in this study had not attended courses on non-pharmacological pain management.
The Effect of Massage, Acupressure and Reflexology on Restless Legs Syndrome Severity and Sleep Quality in Patients Receiving Haemodialysis Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
This study aimed to review massage, acupressure and reflexology interventions applied to haemodialysis patients with restless legs syndrome and to examine the effects of these interventions on sleep quality. A systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic literature search was conducted on databases ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBSCO and PubMed. The Modified Jadad scale was used. The statistical analysis was conducted using the Stata 15.0 software, with the aim of evaluating heterogeneity between studies using both chi-square and I2 statistics. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using both the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool and statistical tests. A funnel plot was used to detect potential publication bias, which is indicated by an asymmetry in the plot. The Egger regression test was also performed to evaluate publication bias. Twelve studies were selected for the meta-analysis. All studies included in this meta-analysis were of good quality. In the subgroup analysis, it was determined that massage and acupressure reduced the severity of restless legs syndrome as a result of the intervention, while reflexology had no effect. Interventions did not affect the sleep quality of patients. Restless legs syndrome severity was significantly reduced in studies using oil and in studies that intervened for more than 15 min per session. Interventions applied to haemodialysis patients with restless legs syndrome can reduce the severity of restless legs syndrome. It is recommended to conduct randomised controlled trials that determine the effects of methods on restless legs syndrome severity and sleep quality in haemodialysis patients.
strong evidenceDoes reflexology work? Common questions
Is reflexology scientifically proven?
No. The most careful reviews conclude reflexology isn't a proven treatment for any specific medical condition. What the research more consistently supports is relaxation and short-term relief of anxiety and pain. We track 808 studies here, graded by evidence strength, so you can judge for yourself.
Does reflexology actually work?
It depends what you mean. For curing or treating a disease, the evidence doesn't support it. For helping people relax and feel less anxious or in less pain during a session, a number of small studies are positive, including 245 randomized controlled trials and 221 systematic reviews or meta-analyses in this library.
Is reflexology a pseudoscience?
Reflexology's core idea, that specific points on the feet map to distant organs, isn't backed by anatomy or physiology, and that's why critics call it pseudoscience. The relaxation and comfort people feel during a session are real, though. It's best understood as a complementary relaxation practice, not a medical treatment.
What is reflexology best supported for?
The strongest and most consistent evidence is for relaxation and short-term reduction in anxiety and pain, plus some cancer-care symptoms like nausea and fatigue. Evidence for treating specific diseases is weak. Use the evidence-strength filter to sort studies by how solid they are.
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