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 36 of 68
Clients' perceptions of the benefits of reflexology on their quality of life
Awareness has increased among health-care professionals, patients and the general public of the importance of an holistic approach to cancer care. Psychosocial interventions, including complementary therapies, may help to improve the quality of life (QoL) of people with cancer by helping to reduce the distress associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and by facilitating improved psychological adjustment to the experience of cancer. The following article presents anecdotal findings at ARC Cancer Support Centre Dublin, Ireland, of clients' perceptions of the benefits of reflexology interventions on their QoL. Reflexology interventions were perceived to impact positively upon clients' levels of impairment and functional status, including physical and psychological function, with implications for general health perceptions. The paper discusses how these findings might form the basis of further, more rigourous evaluation of the benefits of reflexology for people with cancer at ARC Cancer Support Centre.
limited evidence
Q1 JournalReflexology audit: patient satisfaction, impact on quality of life and availability in Scottish hospices
Complementary therapies are being accessed increasingly by cancer patients. The aims of this audit were to investigate the impact of reflexology on the quality of life of 20 cancer patients, to determine their satisfaction with the service provided and to investigate the availability of this therapy within Scottish hospices. The audit findings suggest that the clients were satisfied with the service received. Respondents noted that their quality of life was improved through a reduction in physical and emotional symptoms. It was found that the provision of reflexology within Scottish hospices varied, with less than half providing this service. The results of this audit suggest that reflexology may be a worthwhile treatment for other cancer patients and requires further research to evaluate the benefits.
Evaluation of a hospice based reflexology service: a qualitative audit of patient perceptions
Complementary therapies are being increasingly used in palliative care in the drive to improve patients' emotional, psychological and spiritual health, and enhance the quality of their lives. The importance of seeking the 'user' perspective when evaluating such services is becoming increasingly acknowledged. However, it is also extremely important that we elicit such perspectives in an ethically sensitive manner. This study used a simple semi-structured questionnaire to elicit the views of a convenience sample of 34 patients receiving palliative care at a specialist palliative core unit in the north of England who had completed a course of 4-6 sessions of reflexology. Patients' comments about the therapy and the service as a whole were overwhelmingly positive. They identified relaxation, relief from tension and anxiety, feelings of comfort and improved well-being as beneficial effects of their course of reflexology. Patients also spontaneously evaluated the experience holistically in terms of the wider therapeutic environment--the centre, the staff and the therapist as well as the therapy itself. The increasing demand for evidence based practice now challenges researchers to provide a relevant holistic assessment of complementary therapies using approaches that are both ethical and sensitive to the needs of this vulnerable patient population.
A Service Evaluation of Heisei Shiatsu Massage as an Adjunct to the Pharmacological Management of Cancer Pain
Conventional pharmacological treatment does not always relieve cancer pain satisfactorily, increasing the need for further medication. Complementary and integrative therapies are offered to cancer inpatients to improve their well-being. Although manual therapies such as massage and reflexology are commonly offered to hospitalized cancer patients in the UK, Shiatsu in this setting is little known and has been studied much less. The purpose of this project is to examine the pain-relieving effects of Heisei Shiatsu in hospitalized cancer patients and to compare those results with other bodywork modalities which have been established for longer in this field. Fifty-five inpatients received 66 Heisei Shiatsu treatments. Interventions are adapted to health issues and specific pain complaints. Patients scored changes in pain intensity, the relief provided, and changes in mood as a result of the treatment using the validated Integrative Medicine Treatment Evaluation Form. The pre- and post-treatment scores for pain and mood were analyzed with both student's t-test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results for relief are given in percentage points. All results were compared to results for other therapies stated in comparable research articles. Decrease in pain intensity and pain relief was reported after the Shiatsu session by all patients. The average reduction in pain was 40%. Thirty-two percent of the patients said their pain had been completely relieved, and 45% stated the pain had been mostly relieved. Compared to results in similar studies, Shiatsu is more effective than aromatherapy or reflexology in reducing pain among cancer patients. Almost all patients commented on the relaxing and soothing effects of these treatments. Heisei Shiatsu can be delivered alongside conventional care for patients with cancer. Although the sample size is not big enough to draw definite conclusions, it warrants further research into the safety of Heisei Shiatsu in this setting and it
moderate evidenceWomen's experience of low back and/or pelvic pain (LBPP) during pregnancy
to explore the experiences of women suffering low back and/or pelvic pain during pregnancy. a qualitative design using focus groups. Each group was recorded with a digital audio recorder and analysed using the Newell and Burnard framework for thematic analysis. an urban maternity hospital. a self-selecting sample of 14 women who had taken part in a pilot randomised controlled trial investigating reflexology for pregnancyrelated low back and / or pelvic pain. the group discussions were guided by a pre-determined schedule of questions designed to investigate women's experiences of pregnancyrelated low back and / or pelvic pain. Three main themes emerged: low back and/ or pelvic pain affected women physically and emotionally during pregnancy. Their attitudes towards, and knowledge about the conditions differed. Women used a range of self-help strategies for their symptoms and there was a general sense of dissatisfaction with routine advice and treatment, a finding supported by a growing body of research. given that pregnancy-related low back and/ pelvic pain occur across the world, and affects the majority of pregnant women, heath care providers need to ensure that standard care provided is meeting women's needs. Health care professionals may require specific training in order to effectively provide individualised and evidence-based advice and support to pregnant women experiencing this pain.
Reflexology has no immediate haemodynamic effect in patients with chronic heart failure: a double blind randomised controlled trial
This study measured the effects of reflexology in 12 reflexology-naive patients with chronic heart failure in a placebo-controlled, double blind randomised controlled study design. Outcomes included 'beat-to-beat' non-invasive continuous measurement of cardiovascular parameters and measurement of state of anxiety and pain/discomfort. There were no changes in any of the haemodynamic parameters measured (all p > 0.05). Perceived state of anxiety was significantly reduced post treatment in the control group only (p = 0.03). Reflexology applied to the feet of patients with chronic heart failure appears to have no immediate haemodynamic effects. While any long term treatment effect is uncertain, it would appear that reflexology is safe for use in this patient group.
Fasciatherapy and Reflexology compared to Hypnosis and Music Therapy in Daily Stress Management
Patients suffering from stress symptoms due to every-day life who are looking for a non-pharmacological response to their relief expectation are many. Furthermore, early reckoning of the day-to-day stress which may lead to clinical diagnosis is the best way of preventing the stress-related diseases. Among the many alternative medicinal options, there is little evidence that fasciatherapy (Fs) and reflexology (Rf) are effective in this field. assess incidence of fasciatherapy Danis Bois Method (DBM) and of reflexology on patients' stress level in everyday-life, and provide a more informed choice among the numerous mind and body techniques by comparing them with hypnosis (Hp) and music therapy (Mt). Specialized Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) centres for outpatients. 308 individuals (average age = 50.53 SD 14.37, 93 males, 215 females) going to the centres for health care, but free from serious diseases and not heavily medicated respecting the inclusion criteria and providing valid forms. Four armed, non-randomized observational pragmatic trial with pretest-posttest repeated measures, on separate samples of natural groups. According to the centre participants where they used to be treated, they were exposed to a single semi-standardized session of a technique of their choice: Fs, Rf, Hp, Mt. Volunteers had a controlled non-intervention resting (Rt) session. Mean STAI-Y assessing anxiety as reflecting the stress level: MANCOVA and ANCOVA performed with Tukey's HSD. MANCOVA indicates a significant reduction of anxiety (p < .01) in each condition, resting included. ANCOVA performance adjusting on stress level in T0 (41.73) and on the mean sumscore of the trait (44.89), Fs (-13.92), Rf (-15.92), and Hp (-15.88) were equally effective on the stress level decrease. Mt (-10.0) and Rt (-6.38) showed the same level of effectiveness. The results suggest fasciatherapy DBM, hypnosis, and reflexology could be used as non-pharmacological and safe interventions
The effect of hand reflexology massage on pain and hemodynamic parameters during endotracheal suctioning: A double-blind, randomized, 2 × 2 crossover study
Endotracheal suctioning is a common painful procedure in intensive care. Reflexology massage, a non-pharmacological pain relief method, hasn't been studied in this context. To examine the effect of reflexology hand massage and placebo hand massage on pain and hemodynamic parameters related to endotracheal suctioning. This double-blind, randomized, 2 × 2 crossover controlled trial included 24 intubated ICU patients. Massage was applied to both hands of individuals in the reflexology and placebo groups for 10 min on each hand, for a total of 20 min over two consecutive days. Data were collected using the Patient Demographic Information Form, Hemodynamic Parameters and Pain Monitoring Form, Critical Care Pain Observation Tool. The data were analyzed using pairwise and triple group comparison tests for dependent and independent groups. The pain scores of patients who received reflexology on the first and second day before, during, and after suctioning were 0.33±0.65, 1.83±1.02, 0.00±0.00, and 0.58±0.90, 1.66±1.07, 0.00±0.00, respectively. The pain scores of patients who received placebo massage on the first and second day were recorded as 1.83±1.46, 3.58±0.99, 0.66±0.65, and 1.33±0.98, 3.08±0.79, 0.75±0.62, respectively (p < 0.05 between and within groups). After suctioning, a decrease in diastolic blood pressure and respiratory rate, along with an increase in tidal volume, was observed in the reflexology group (p < 0.05). Hand reflexology massage is effective in alleviating suction-related pain and improving the patient's hemodynamics. Hand reflexology massage may be recommended for reducing suction pain, providing comfort, and improving hemodynamic instability in intensive care patients.
Reflexology has an acute (immediate) haemodynamic effect in healthy volunteers: a double-blind randomised controlled trial
Reflexologists claim that massage to specific points of the feet increases blood supply to internal organs. This study measured changes in cardiovascular parameters in subjects receiving reflexology to areas of their feet thought to correspond to the heart (intervention) compared with other areas which are not (control). 16 reflexology-naive healthy volunteers received an active and control reflexology treatment in an RCT, double-blind repeated measures study. 'Beat-to-beat' continuous measurement of selected cardiovascular parameters, State Anxiety Inventory. Cardiac index decreased significantly in the intervention group during left foot treatment (LFT) (baseline mean 2.6; standard deviation (SD) 0.75; 95% CI ± 0.38 vs. LFT mean 2.45; SD 0.68; CI 0.35), effect size (p = 0.035, omega squared effect (w2) = 0.002; w = 0.045). Reflexology massage applied to the upper part of the left foot may have a modest specific effect on the cardiac index of healthy volunteers.
The acute (immediate) effects of reflexology on arterial compliance in healthy volunteers: A randomised study
Reflexology is a widely used complementary therapy. The effects of reflexology on the cardiovascular system are not well characterised. Arterial stiffness (compliance) is a marker of vascular health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of reflexology on arterial compliance in healthy volunteers. 12 healthy volunteers (1 male; 11 female; mean age 44.8 ± 10.8 yrs) received 10 min of reflexology on each foot in a single-blind randomised study. The main outcome measures were measurements of cardiovascular parameters including heart rate, blood pressure and arterial compliance (augmentation index). Reflexology had no significant effect on heart rate, blood pressure or augmentation index (all p > 0.05). In healthy volunteers, there were no consistent changes in haemodynamic parameters with a single brief reflexology treatment. Thus from a cardiovascular point of view, reflexology (as delivered) would appear to have a limited (if any) effect on the cardiovascular system.
The clinical efficacy of reflexology in nursing home residents with dementia
This experimental, repeated-measures, crossover design study with nursing home residents examined the efficacy of reflexology in individuals with mild-to-moderate stage dementia. Specifically, the study tested whether a weekly reflexology intervention contributed to the resident outcomes of reduced physiologic distress, reduced pain, and improved affect. The study was conducted at a large nursing home in suburban Philadelphia. The sample included 21 nursing home residents with mild-to-moderate stage dementia randomly assigned to two groups. The first group received 4 weeks of weekly reflexology treatments followed by 4 weeks of a control condition of friendly visits. The second group received 4 weeks of friendly visits followed by 4 weeks of weekly reflexology. The primary efficacy endpoint was reduction of physiologic distress as measured by salivary alpha-amylase. The secondary outcomes were observed pain (Checklist of Nonverbal Pain Indicators) and observed affect (Apparent Affect Rating Scale). The findings demonstrate that when receiving the reflexology treatment condition, as compared to the control condition, the residents demonstrated significant reduction in observed pain and salivary alpha-amylase. No adverse events were recorded during the study period. This study provides preliminary support for the efficacy of reflexology as a treatment of stress in nursing home residents with mild-to-moderate stage dementia.
[Effects of aroma self-foot reflexology massage on stress and immune responses and fatigue in middle-aged women in rural areas]
This study was done to examine the effects of aroma self-foot reflexology massage on stress and immune responses and fatigue in middle-aged women in rural areas. The study was a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. The participants were 52 middle-aged women from rural areas of which 26 were assigned to the experimental group and 26 to the control group. Data were collected from July to September, 2011 and analyzed using SPSS Win 17.0 version program. The intervention was conducted 3 times a week for six weeks. There were significant differences in reported perceived stress, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and fatigue between the two groups. However, the issue of salivary cortisol and immune response were not significant. Aroma self-foot reflexology massage can be utilized as an effective intervention for perceived stress, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and fatigue in middle-aged woman in rural areas.
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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