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 42 of 68
Complementary Health Approaches Used in the Intensive Care Unit
Intensive care units are care centers where, in order to provide the maximum benefit to individuals whose life is in danger, many lifesaving technological tools and devices are present, and morbidity and mortality rates are high. In the intensive care unit, when classic treatments fail or become unbearable because of side effects, complementary methods have been suggested to be the best alternative. Complementary health approaches are methods that are used both for the continuation and the improvement of the well-being of an individual and as additions to medical treatments that are based on a holistic approach. These applications are especially helpful in the treatment of the stresses, anxieties, and other symptoms of unstable patients in the intensive care unit who do not tolerate traditional treatment methods well, increasing their psychological and physiological well-being, helping them sleep and rest. In intensive care patients, in order to decrease the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation, antiemetic and medicine needs, mechanical ventilation duration, and the intensity of the disease as well as to cope with symptoms such as pain, anxiety, physiological parameters, dyspnea, and sleep problems, body-mind interventions such as massage, reflexology, acupressure, aromatherapy, music therapy, energy therapies (healing touch, therapeutic touch, the Yakson method), and prayer are used as complementary health approaches.
limited evidence
Q2 JournalEFFECTIVENESS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY IN MYOFASCIAL SYNDROME IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
The aim: Is to conduct a comparative analysis of electroneuromyographic parameters in patients with myofascial pain syndrome with multiple sclerosis under the conditions of using various means of physical therapy. Materials and methods: 105 patients aged 21 to 54 years were examined with MPS in MS. Neurological disorders were verified according to ENMG examinations. 64 patients were enrolled in an experimental group for which a specially designed program was included, which included reflexology and exercise for stretching muscles for 30 days. The control group included 41 patients who underwent a FT course based on therapeutic massage during the same time. Analysis of global ENMG was performed according to functional tests («muscle relaxation» and «maximum arbitrary muscle tension» with m. Tibialis anterior and m. Rectus femoris), M-responses and H-reflexes, polysynaptic responses (PSV) in withdrawal from these muscles during short-term stimulation n. plantaris (number of pulses in series 10, frequency - 20 Hz, duration of a separate stimulation signal - 1 ms, intensity - double threshold of contractile response of the muscles of the sole of the foot) and residual latency as the time of motor impulse on terminal non-myelinated nerve. Testing was performed on the same muscle groups on the left and righ. Results: Before physical therapy during electromyographic testing, a significant decrease in the amplitude of the maximum M response, a decrease in the speed of the impulse in the proximal and distal segments of the peripheral nerve, was found to be significant compared with the control, the ratio of the proximal-distal coefficient and the residual latency index significantly increased, which indicates a demyelinating character lesions of nerve conductors. After reflexotherapy with muscle stretching in 38.0% of the patients of the experimental group, the dynamics of the amplitude of the M-answers on the left and on the right has only a tendency t
moderate evidenceExperiences of breast cancer related lymphoedema and the use of reflexology for managing swelling: A qualitative study
An estimated 1 in 5 women surviving breast cancer will go on to develop breast cancer related lymphoedema (BCRL). There is a gap in the literature capturing experiences of people living with BCRL who use complementary therapies. Data were collected from 26 participants via a semi-structured interview. Questioning centred around their personal experiences of living with lymphoedema, and their use of reflexology lymphatic drainage. Four main themes emerged which comprised physical and psycho-social impacts of lymphoedema, experiences of physical change, and the return of optimism. RLD treatment was considered pleasant and non invasive, and the reduction in swelling helped with pain and mobility. The main conclusion from this qualitative evaluation was that participants perceived benefit on physical and psychological levels. Participation in the study appeared to help re-engagement with normal life. Further research is needed to quantify the changes in these parameters.
Effects of Reflexology on Pain in Patients With Fibromyalgia
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of reflexology on pain intensity in patients with fibromyalgia, using an experimental repeated-measures design, and a convenience sample of 30 fibromyalgia inpatients. Thirty patients aged 18 to 70 years with fibromyalgia and hospitalized in the algology clinic were taken as a convenience sample. Patients received a total of 12 60-minute sessions of reflexology over a period of 6 consecutive weeks. Reflexology was carried out bilaterally on the hands and feet of patients at the reflex points relating to their pain at a suitable intensity and angle. Subjects had pain scores taken immediately before the intervention (0 minute), and at the 60th minute of the intervention. Data were collected over a 10-month period in 2012. The patients' mean pain intensity scores were reduced by reflexology, and this decrease improved progressively in the first and sixth weeks of the intervention, indicating a cumulative dose effect. The results of this study implied that the inclusion of reflexology in the routine care of patients with fibromyalgia could provide nurses with an effective practice for reducing pain intensity in these patients.
Effect of Reflexology on Decreasing Postoperative Pain and Anxiety After Total Abdominal Hysterectomy: Erratum
This paper is an erratum (correction notice) for a study that examined whether reflexology could help reduce pain and anxiety in women after hysterectomy surgery. The original study investigated this question, but this document is a correction to that published work rather than the full study itself.
A blinded investigation into the accuracy of reflexology charts
Reflexology is an increasingly popular complementary therapy in which parts of the body are deemed to be represented on the soles of the feet. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this representation can be used as a valid method of diagnosis. Three experienced reflexologists took part in this study. Eighteen adults with one or more of six specified conditions were identified from primary care records. Two reflexologists, who were blinded to the patients' conditions and monitored, then examined each patient's feet and rated the probability that each of the six conditions was present. There is little evidence that the distribution of ratings vary with the status of the condition. Receiver operating curves suggest that this diagnostic method is very poor at distinguishing between the presence and absence of conditions. Inter-rater reliability (kappa) scores were very low, providing no evidence of agreement between the examiners. Despite certain limitations to the data provided by this study, the results do not suggest that reflexology techniques are a valid method of diagnosis.
An exploratory study of reflexological treatment for headache
Headache is the most frequently reported symptom among Danish adults, and studies in various European countries indicate migraine headache prevalence rates similar to those in Denmark. An exploratory study of reflexological treatment for headache was conducted from 1993 to 1994 to examine which patients with headache underwent a course of reflexological treatment, why patients sought reflexological treatment, what previous experience patients had with medication for headache, and what outcomes patients experienced from reflexological treatment. Prospective and exploratory study using random sampling and the following data collection methods: headache diaries, registration schemes for practitioners, questionnaires, and qualitative interviews. Denmark. 220 patients with migraine and/or tension headache. Patients were treated for a maximum of 6 months by 78 reflexologists systematically drawn from the membership lists of 5 alternative therapist associations. A diagnosis of each patient's type of headache at the outset of treatment was made by a consulting physician according to the International Headache Society Classification (1988). At 3-month follow-up, 81% of patients reported that they were helped by the treatments or were cured of their headache problems. Nineteen percent of those who had formerly taken drugs to control their headaches were able to stop medication support following participation in the study. Reflexological treatment seems to improve patients' general well-being, energy level, ability to interpret their own body signals, and ability to understand the reasons for headache. However, these relationships may be due to other factors in the treatment environment. Additional studies are necessary to determine the proximate cause of reflexology's therapeutic benefits.
The Effects of Reflexology on Fatigue Severity of Patients with Cancer
Introduction: Breast cancer is a major threat to women’s health and a common factor that can reduce their life expectancy. Complementary medicine such as reflexology is known to reduce fatigue severity in cancer patients. The present study aimed to cultivate the effect of reflexology on fatigue severity of patients with breast cancer. Methods: The present pre-post clinical trial recruited 57 patients with breast cancer and involved an experimental and a control group. All patients were livening in Ilam, Iran. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups of experimental (N=27) and control (N=30). The experimental group received reflexology for 4 sessions. Data were collected using Fatigue severity scale (FSS) and demographic information questionnaire. FSS was completed by the patients twice; before the intervention and 2 months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS and running t-test and ANOVA. Results: Results showed no significant difference in fatigue severity between experimental (45.44±5.30) and control (43.66±7.68) groups prior to the intervention (p>0.05). However, after conducting the intervention, a significant difference in fatigue severity was seen between the experimental (20.66±4.54) and control (40.36±9.58) groups (p=0.000). Conclusion: The present study showed that reflexology decrease fatigue severity in patients with breast cancer and community health nursing can to use of these complementary medicine to increase patients health conditions.
Expectancy and Utilisation of Reflexology among Women with Advanced Breast Cancer
Little is understood about patient expectations and use of complementary therapies (CT) during cancer treatment. A secondary analysis of an 11-week reflexology trial among women with breast cancer was conducted. We examined factors that predicted women's expectations about reflexology for symptom relief, factors that predicted utilisation of reflexology, and whether by the end of the trial they believed that reflexology had helped with symptom management. Women (N = 256) were interviewed at baseline and week 11. Friend or family caregivers in the reflexology group were trained to deliver standardised sessions to patients at least once a week for 4 weeks. Baseline and week-11 reflexology expectations were analysed using general linear models. Reflexology utilisation was analysed with generalised linear mixed effects models. Patients who expected benefits from reflexology ("higher expectancy") at baseline were younger, had lower anxiety, higher education, higher spirituality, and greater CT use. Worsening symptoms over time were associated with greater utilisation of reflexology, but only when baseline expectancy was low. At week 11, expectancy was higher for those with greater symptom improvement. Assessing patterns of patient factors, expectancy, and change in symptoms can help determine who is likely to use reflexology, and when.
[Analysis of the efficacy of reflexology in the complex treatment of chronic migraine]
To evaluate the effect of different reflexology techniques on main clinical indices of patients with chronic migraine, the number of analgesics used and dynamics of chronic migraine comorbid disorders. The study included 84 patients (60 women (71.5%) and 24 men (28.5%)), aged from 18 to 63 years, with a diagnosis of chronic migraine. Patients were randomized in 4 groups - Su Jok (n=22), acupuncture (n=22), electroacupuncture (n=20), control (n=20). Topiramate was administered in all groups in dose of 100 mg daily. Patients were evaluated before treatment, after 4 and 16 weeks from randomization. There was a marked regression in frequency of headache in reflexological groups in comparison with the control. The number of days with headache was 19±1.12 at baseline and 6.57±1.3 days after treatment in the Su Jok group; 21.6±1.688 and 7±1.786 days in the acupuncture group; 20.25±1.97 and 5.75±0.633 days in the electroacupuncture group. Each of the methods had an impact on various clinical aspects of chronic migraine and comorbid disorders: Su Jok was most effective in treatment of autonomic disorders, the use of acupuncture resulted in the significant reduction of headache intensity and regression of anxiety disorders. The electroacupuncture group showed a significant increase in pain threshold and the least number of days with headache per month. Reflexotherapy is a method of choice in the complex treatment of patients with chronic migraine. Taking into account complex diagnosis, the individually oriented approach in prescribing of different reflexology techniques for successful treatment and subsequent rehabilitation of patients with chronic migraine is required. Цель исследования. Оценка влияния различных C
Coordination and management of multisite complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies: experience from a multisite reflexology intervention trial
Multisite randomized clinical trials allow for increased research collaboration among investigators and expedite data collection efforts. As a result, government funding agencies typically look favorably upon this approach. As the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) continues to evolve, so do increased calls for the use of more rigorous study design and trial methodologies, which can present challenges for investigators. To describe the processes involved in the coordination and management of a multisite randomized clinical trial of a CAM intervention. Key aspects related to the coordination and management of a multisite CAM randomized clinical trial are presented, including organizational and site selection considerations, recruitment concerns and issues related to data collection and randomization to treatment groups. Management and monitoring of data, as well as quality assurance procedures are described. Finally, a real world perspective is shared from a recently conducted multisite randomized clinical trial of reflexology for women diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. The use of multiple sites in the conduct of CAM-based randomized clinical trials can provide an efficient, collaborative and robust approach to study coordination and data collection that maximizes efficiency and ensures the quality of results. Multisite randomized clinical trial designs can offer the field of CAM research a more standardized and efficient approach to examine the effectiveness of novel therapies and treatments. Special attention must be given to intervention fidelity, consistent data collection and ensuring data quality. Assessment and reporting of quantitative indicators of data quality should be required.
The effects of reflexology on constipation and motor functions in children with cerebral palsy
There is no evidence regarding the effects of reflexology on constipation and motor functions in children with cerebral palsy. This study was planned to investigate the effects of reflexology combined with neurodevelopmental therapy on constipation and motor functions in children with cerebral palsy. Forty children between the ages of 3 and 15 years with cerebral palsy within levels 3/4/5 according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) were included in the study. The participants were divided into two groups. While children in Group 1 received neurodevelopmental therapy, children in Group 2 also received reflexology. The therapy continued for two sessions per week for 8 weeks. Each session of neurodevelopmental therapy lasted for 45-60 min and reflexology took around 20 min. Motor performance of the children was evaluated with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) while constipation was assessed with the Modified Constipation Assessment Scale (MCAS). Both groups showed significant improvements in the GMFM scores after therapy (<0.001). In the group where neurodevelopmental therapy was applied together with reflexology, there was a decrease in MCAS scores (<0.001). NGT improved motor performance in both groups and adding reflexology to therapy had a positive effect on constipation. We suggest applying reflexology to children with cerebral palsy who experience constipation problems.
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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