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 28 of 68
A systematic review of manual therapy modalities and anxiety
Anxiety disorders have a far-reaching impact on society, with profound implications on both mental and physical health. In response, there is growing interest in manual therapy modalities, with emerging research suggesting their potential to alleviate related symptoms. To establish a consensus regarding manual therapy modalities for addressing anxiety symptoms, a systematic review of current literature was conducted. A literature search was conducted between May and August 2023, utilizing a systematic search on both PubMed and Google Scholar, adhering to the defined inclusion criteria. In addition, information was gathered utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Both authors (KLW and TH) conducted the literature review. The inclusion criteria include articles written in English, peer-reviewed, anxiety conditions documented, and manual therapy delivered by a respectfully qualified professional. Manual therapy modalities include massage therapy, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), foot reflexology, acupressure, manual therapy, healing touch, therapeutic touch, and gentle touch. After initial data collection, both researchers independently screened articles utilizing two metrics: a level of evidence (LOE) table and a screening criterion incorporating unique elements from the search process. The quality of the included articles was assessed utilizing Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT). When reviewer discrepancies arose, authors reread full-text studies and discussed the inclusion and exclusion criteria to achieve consensus. The data searches identified 8,979 articles, with 239 articles remaining after duplicates and nonapplicable articles were removed. A total of 42 articles met the inclusion criteria, with only 40 articles able to be obtained for full-article review. After full review and the exclusion of articles with invalid author conclusions, meta-analysis, or systematic reviews, 34 arti
strong evidenceEfficacy of Interventions to Reduce Arteriovenous Fistula Cannulation-Related Pain in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Experiencing continued pain affects the level of haemodialysis adherence in patients and ultimately decrease quality of life. Therefore, pain control is an important priority in these patients. No systematic review and meta-analyses study about the effect of intervention (invasive and noninvasive intervention) on the arteriovenous fistula cannulation-related pain has yet been carried out. This systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to assess the evidence for the effectiveness of intervention to reduce the arteriovenous fistula cannulation-related pain in patients undergoing haemodialysis. Using English databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, ProQuest, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, and EBSCOHOST were systematically searched from their inception to April 2025. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias using the JBI RCT checklist. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis® software version 3.0 (Biostat) was used for data analysis. Twenty-two randomised controlled trials examined the effects of interventions to alleviate the arteriovenous fistula cannulation-related pain including invasive and noninvasive interventions related studies. Invasive interventions buttonhole cannulation, using plastic needle and using indwelling needles. Noninvasive methods include cryotherapy or using a local skin cooling device, aromatherapy, foot reflexology, US-guided cannulation, antistress balls, listening to music or running water, virtual reality distraction, breathing exercise, and acupressure on patients with haemodialysis. The study demonstrated that invasive and noninvasive interventions had beneficial effects on the fistula cannulation-related pain. However, due to the heterogeneity and the lack of follow-up studies, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm the results of our review and to clarify the long-term effects of interventions.
Effects of non-pharmacological interventions on pain in wound patients during dressing change: A systematic review
Changes to the wound dressing frequently cause pain. Some adverse side effects of pharmacologic pain management may cause problems or even impede wound healing. There is no systematic study of non-pharmacologic therapies for pain during wound dressing changes, despite the gradual promotion of non-pharmacologic pain reduction methods. To give clinical wound pain management a new direction, locating and assessing non-pharmacological interventions regarding pain brought on by wound dressing changes are necessary. The researchers conducted a comprehensive literature review on non-pharmacological interventions for pain during wound dressing changes across five databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library spanning the period from January 2010 to September 2022. The evaluation of literature and data extraction was carried out independently by two researchers, and in cases of disagreement, a third researcher participated in the deliberation. To assess the risk of bias in the literature, the researchers utilised the Cochrane Handbook for Reviews of Interventions, version 5.1.0. In total, 951 people were involved in 11 investigations covering seven non-pharmacological therapies. For pain triggered by dressing changes, virtual reality (VR) distraction, auditory and visual distractions, foot reflexology, religious and spiritual care, and guided imaging demonstrated partially positive effects, with hypnosis therapy and jaw relaxation perhaps having a weak effect. The key to managing wounds is pain management. According to our review, there is some indication that non-pharmacologic interventions can help patients feel less discomfort when having their wound dressings changed. However, the evidence supporting this view is weak. It needs to be corroborated by future research studies with multicentre and large samples. To promote and use various non-pharmacologic interventions in the future, it is also necessary to build standardised and homogenis
Other complementary and alternative medicine modalities: acupuncture, magnets, reflexology, and homeopathy.
This paper reviews research on four alternative medicine approaches: acupuncture, magnets, reflexology, and homeopathy. The authors examined available studies to evaluate what evidence exists for whether these treatments actually work.
limited evidence
Q1 JournalEfficacy of the Complementary and Alternative Therapies for the Management of Psychological Symptoms of Menopause: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Researchers reviewed multiple randomized controlled trials to evaluate whether complementary and alternative therapies (including reflexology) help manage psychological symptoms during menopause, such as anxiety and mood changes. The systematic review synthesized evidence from high-quality studies to determine which therapies are most effective for this common life transition.
Massage therapy: understanding the mechanisms of action on blood pressure. A scoping review.
This review examined multiple studies on how massage therapy affects blood pressure. The researchers looked at evidence from various well-designed studies to understand the mechanisms and effects of massage on this important health measure.
Foot reflexology for reduction of blood pressure in hypertensive individual: A systematic review.
Researchers reviewed multiple studies on foot reflexology to see if it could help lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. They looked at the best available evidence to determine whether this traditional therapy actually works.
Physical therapy for headaches.
This review examined research on how physical therapy treatments can help people with headaches. The authors looked at multiple studies to understand which physical therapy approaches work best and what the evidence shows about their effectiveness.
Manual therapies for migraine: a systematic review.
This systematic review examined multiple studies on manual therapies (including massage and similar hands-on treatments) for treating migraines. The researchers found that several manual therapy approaches showed promise in reducing migraine frequency and intensity, though the quality of evidence varies across different techniques.
The Efficacy of Manual Therapy in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.
Researchers reviewed all high-quality studies on manual therapy (hands-on treatments) for people with knee osteoarthritis to see if it helps reduce pain and improve movement. They found that manual therapy shows promise for relieving knee pain and improving function, though the strength of evidence varies across different techniques.
[Physiotherapy and sports therapeutic interventions for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome : A systematic review].
This systematic review examined research on physiotherapy and sports therapy treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition causing pain and numbness in the hand and wrist. The researchers reviewed multiple studies to determine which hands-on and exercise-based treatments work best for managing this common condition.
Massage therapy for cancer palliation and supportive care: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials.
A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effects of massage therapy on cancer patients, specifically looking at its ability to alleviate symptoms like pain, nausea, and anxiety. The findings suggest that massage can provide relief, but the evidence is not strong enough to draw definitive conclusions due to poor study quality. This highlights the need for better-designed studies in the future.
Does 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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