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 44 of 68
Noninvasive characterisation of foot reflexology areas by swept source-optical coherence tomography in patients with low back pain
Objective. When exploring the scientific basis of reflexology techniques, elucidation of the surface and subsurface features of reflexology areas (RAs) is crucial. In this study, the subcutaneous features of RAs related to the lumbar vertebrae were evaluated by swept source-optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in subjects with and without low back pain (LBP). Methods. Volunteers without LBP (n = 6 (male : female = 1 : 1)) and subjects with LBP (n = 15 (male : female = 2 : 3)) were clinically examined in terms of skin colour (visual perception), localised tenderness (visual analogue scale) and structural as well as optical attributes as per SS-OCT. From each subject, 6 optical tomograms were recorded from equidistant transverse planes along the longitudinal axis of the RAs, and from each tomogram, 25 different spatial locations were considered for recording SS-OCT image attributes. The images were analysed with respect to the optical intensity distributions and thicknesses of different skin layers by using AxioVision Rel. 4.8.2 software. The SS-OCT images could be categorised into 4 pathological grades (i.e., 0, 1, 2, and 3) according to distinctness in the visible skin layers. Results. Three specific grades for abnormalities in SS-OCT images were identified considering gradual loss of distinctness and increase in luminosity of skin layers. Almost 90.05% subjects were of mixed type having predominance in certain grades. Conclusion. The skin SS-OCT system demonstrated a definite association of the surface features of healthy/unhealthy RAs with cutaneous features and the clinical status of the lumbar vertebrae.
limited evidence
Q2 JournalEffects of a multicomponent intervention on body composition and cardiovascular risk factors in women with obesity- a randomized clinical trial
Despite the widespread importance of addressing obesity as a major public health concern, the combination of conventional weight management strategies (e.g., diet and exercise) with complementary therapies (e.g., reflexology) remains understudied. This study assessed the effects of a multicomponent intervention, including calorie restriction (CR), exercise (EX), and foot reflexology (FR) (a well-documented complementary therapy) on body composition and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in women with obesity, hypothesizing greater improvements with reflexology added to CR + EX. In this randomized clinical trial, 40 women with obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30) were randomly assigned to a CR + EX group (n = 20) and a CR + EX + FR group (n = 20). Two intervention groups before, 7, and 14 weeks after the interventions were compared in body composition, e.g., body fat and BMI, and CVD risk factors, e.g., high- and low-density lipoprotein (HDL and LDL) and diastolic-systolic blood pressure (DBP and SBP). Student's t-test and repeated measures t-test with a significance level of < 0.05 were used to compare differences between and within groups. There was a significant decrease in BMI (mean difference (MD)=-1.23), body weight (MD=-3.35), BF (MD=-3.55), GL (MD=-0.47), cholesterol (MD=-7.45), TG (MD=-6.50), SBP (MD=-2.75), MM (MD = 0.97) and HDL (MD = 1.90) after 14 weeks of intervention in the CR + EX + FR comparing the CR + EX group (p p > 0.05). The combination of CR, EX, and FR shows promise in improving body composition (reducing BF, BMI, and weight), lipid profiles (lowering total cholesterol and TG, increasing HDL), and blood pressure. This integrated multicomponent intervention approach may effectively manage obesity-related complications and enhance cardiovascula
moderate evidence[Changes of renal blood flow during organ-associated foot reflexology measured by color Doppler sonography]
Using colour Doppler sonography blood flow changes of the right kidney during foot reflexology were determined in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised study. 32 healthy young adults (17 women, 15 men) were randomly assigned to the verum or placebo group. The verum group received foot reflexology at zones corresponding to the right kidney, the placebo group was treated on other foot zones. Before, during and after foot reflexology the blood flow of three vessels of the right kidney was measured using colour Doppler sonography. Systolic peak velocity and end diastolic peak velocity were measured in cm/s, and the resistive index, a parameter of the vascular resistance, was calculated. The resistive index in the verum group showed a highly significant decrease (p </= 0.001) during and an increase (p = 0.001) after foot reflexology. There was no difference between men and women and no difference between smokers and non-smokers. Verum and placebo group significantly differed concerning alterations of the resistive index both between the measuring points before versus during foot reflexology (p = 0.002) and those during versus after foot reflexology (p = 0.031). The significant decrease of the resistive index during foot reflexology in the verum group indicates a decrease of flow resistance in renal vessels and an increase of renal blood flow. These findings support the hypothesis that organ-associated foot reflexology is effective in changing renal blood flow during therapy.
Letter to the editor re: "The impact of foot reflexology on postoperative pain and fear in children following circumcision: A randomized controlled trial"
This is a letter to the editor responding to a research study about foot reflexology for children's pain and fear after circumcision surgery. The letter provides critical commentary on the original study's findings and methodology rather than presenting new research data.
Comparing the Effects of Reflexology and Footbath on Sleep Quality in the Elderly: A Controlled Clinical Trial
Sleep disorders are common mental disorders reported among the elderly in all countries, and with nonpharmacological interventions, they could be helped to improve their sleep quality. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two interventions, foot reflexology and foot bath, on sleep quality in elderly people. This three-group randomized clinical trial (two experimental groups and a control group) was conducted on 69 elderly men. The two experimental groups had reflexology (n = 23) and foot bath (n = 23) interventions for 6 weeks. The reflexology intervention was done in the mornings, once a week for ten minutes on each foot. The participants in the foot bath group were asked to soak their feet in 41°C to 42°C water one hour before sleeping. The pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was completed before and after the intervention through an interview process. The results showed that the PSQI scores after intervention compared to before it in the reflexology and foot bath groups were statistically significant (P = 0.01 , P = 0.001); however, in the control group did not show a statistically significant difference (P = 0.14). In addition, the total score changes among the three groups were statistically significant (P = 0.01). Comparing the score changes of quality of sleep between the reflexology and foot bath groups showed that there was no significant difference in none of the components and the total score (P = 0.09). The two interventions had the same impact on the quality of sleep. It is suggested that the training of nonpharmacological methods to improve sleep quality such as reflexology and foot bath be included in the elderly health programs. In addition, it is recommended that the impact of these interventions on subjective sleep quality using polysomnographic recordings be explored in future research.
Randomized controlled study of premenstrual symptoms treated with ear, hand, and foot reflexology
To determine whether reflexology therapy--the application of manual pressure to reflex points on the ears, hands, and feet that somatotopically correspond to specific areas of the body--can significantly reduce premenstrual symptoms compared to placebo treatment. Thirty-five women who complained of previous distress with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were randomly assigned to be treated by ear, hand, and foot reflexology or to receive placebo reflexology. All subjects completed a daily diary, which monitored 38 premenstrual symptoms on a four-point scale. Somatic and psychological indicators of premenstrual distress were recorded each day for 2 months before treatment, for 2 months during reflexology, and for 2 months afterward. The reflexology sessions for both groups were provided by a trained reflexology therapist once a week for 8 weeks, and lasted 30 minutes each. Analysis of variance for repeated measures demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in premenstrual symptoms for the women given true reflexology treatment than for the women in the placebo group. These clinical findings support the use of ear, hand, and foot reflexology for the treatment of PMS.
Randomized controlled trial of foot reflexology for patients with symptomatic idiopathic detrusor overactivity
The aim of this study was to examine whether foot reflexology has beneficial effects on patients with idiopathic detrusor overactivity. One hundred and nine women with symptomatic idiopathic detrusor overactivity were randomized into either foot reflexology treatment group or nonspecific foot massage control group. The primary outcome measure was the change in the diurnal micturition frequency. There was significant change in the number of daytime frequency in the reflexology group when compared with the massage group (-1.90 vs -0.55, p = 0.029). There was also a decrease in the 24-h micturition frequency in both groups, but the change was not statistically significant (-2.80 vs -1.04 p = 0.055). In the reflexology group, more patients believed to have received "true" reflexology (88.9 vs 67.4%, p = 0.012). This reflects the difficulty of blinding in trials of reflexology. Larger scale studies with a better-designed control group and an improved blinding are required to examine if reflexology is effective in improving patients' overall outcome.
[Foot reflexology: an intervention study]
The study's goal was to test if foot reflexology (FR) affects well-being, voiding, bowel movements, pain and/or sleep in women who underwent an abdominal operation. 130 subjects were randomized into three groups. For five days they were exposed to 15 minutes of FR, foot/leg massage (FM) or talking respectively. Results show that women in the FR group were more able to void without problems, after the indwelling catheter had been removed, than did women in the comparison groups. There was also a tendency in the FR-group for the indwelling catheter to be removed earlier than in the other groups. In comparison, the FR-subjects slept worse than the others. FM showed significant results in subjective measurements of well-being, pain and sleep.
Increased Parasympathetic Activity by Foot Reflexology Massage after Repeated Sprint Test in Collegiate Football Players: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Foot reflexology massage (FRM) has positive effects on cardiovascular and haemodynamic functions. However, information regarding the physiological changes after FRM post exercise-stress is limited. This study investigated the acute effects of FRM on heart rate variability (HRV) after the repeated sprint ability (RSA) test and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YY). Twenty-six collegiate male football players were randomly assigned to the FRM group (n = 14) or to the control group (n = 12). Electrocardiographic (ECG) signals were recorded for 15 min in supine position before and after the intervention/control period in the RSA test and the YY test. In comparison to the control group, the FRM group demonstrated higher values of root mean squared successive difference in the RR interval (RMSSD; p = 0.046, ES = 0.76) and in the proportion of differences of adjacent RR intervals >50 ms (pNN50; p = 0.031, ES = 0.87); and higher percent changes in mean RR interval (%MeanRR; p = 0.040, ES = 0.99), standard deviation of RR intervals (%SDNN; p = 0.008, ES = 1.10), normalised high-frequency power (%nHFP; p = 0.008, ES = 0.77), total power (%TP; p = 0.009, ES = 0.84) and standard deviation 1 and 2 (%SD1; p = 0.008, ES = 1.08, %SD2; p = 0.020, ES = 1.04) after the RSA test. The magnitude effect of post-exercise HRV was small after the FRM RSA protocol (ES = 0.32-0.57). Conversely, the results demonstrated a moderate and large magnitude effect of HRV in the RSA and YY protocols of the control group (ES: RSA = 1.07-2.00; YY = 0.81-1.61) and in the YY protocol of the FRM group (ES = 0.99-1.59). The FRM intervention resulted in beneficial effects on the cardiac parasympathetic reactivity and the sympatho-vagal balance after RSA performance.
Comparing the effects of warm footbath and foot reflexology on depression of patients undergoing radiotherapy: A randomized clinical trial
Cancer diagnosis not only impacts physical health but also mental well-being, often leading to significant stress, fear, and depression among patients.The utilization of CAM has shown a rising trend, influenced by the availability of different modalities offered by healthcare services, sometimes in an ad hoc fashion. This study seeks to examine and compare the respective impacts of warm foot baths and foot reflexology on depression in patients undergoing radiotherapy. A randomized clinical trial was conducted at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran in 2019, following CONSORT guidelines. Participants included non-metastatic cancer patients aged 18-60 undergoing a 28-day radiotherapy course. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either warm footbaths or foot reflexology as interventions, performed daily for 20 min over 21 days. The data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Statistical analysis indicated no significant differences in demographic attributes between the two groups. Both interventions led to a significant reduction in depression scores post-treatment compared to pre-treatment assessments. Foot reflexology showed a greater reduction in depression scores compared to footbaths with warm water. Both warm footbaths and foot reflexology are effective in alleviating depression in patients undergoing radiotherapy, with foot reflexology showing a greater impact on improving depression levels. The study recommends foot reflexology as a preferred intervention for managing depression in these patients if conditions and facilities permit.
Comparison of the Effects of Foot and Hand Reflexology on Pain and Anxiety in Patients Admitted to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Anxiety and pain are common challenges among patients admitted to the cardiac care unit (CCU). This study aimed to compare the effects of hand and foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in CCU patients. A randomized clinical trial was conducted between June and September 2024. Of the 131 patients assessed for eligibility, 108 were enrolled and randomly assigned to three groups: hand reflexology, foot reflexology, and control. Reflexology sessions were performed twice daily over three consecutive days. Anxiety was evaluated using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and pain was measured with the visual analog scale. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and paired t-tests, with a significance level of P < 0.05. No significant differences were found among the groups regarding demographic or baseline clinical characteristics (P > 0.05), confirming initial group homogeneity. Following the intervention, both the hand and foot reflexology groups showed significant reductions in state and trait anxiety scores (P P = 0.563). Within-group analysis revealed a significant reduction in pain only in the hand reflexology group. Hand and foot reflexology were both effective in reducing anxiety in CCU patients. Hand reflexology also demonstrated potential for reducing pain, suggesting it may serve as a useful complementary therapy in critical care settings.
Changes of cerebral functional connectivity induced by foot reflexology in a RCT
Non-Pharmacological Interventions (NPIs) are increasingly being introduced into healthcare, but their mechanisms are unclear. In this study, 30 healthy participants received foot reflexology (FR) and sham massage, and went through a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to evaluate NPIs effect on brain. Rs-fMRI revealed an effect of both NPIs on functional connectivity with changes occurring in the default-mode network, the sensorimotor network and a Neural Network Correlates of Pain (NNCP-a newly discovered network showing great robustness). Even if no differences were found between FR and SM, this study allowed to report brain biomarkers of well-being as well as the safety of NPIs. In further research, it could be relevant to study it in patients to look for a true reflexology induced-effect dependent of patient reported outcomes. Overall, these findings enrich the understanding of the neural correlates of well-being experienced with NPIs and provided insight into the basis of the mechanisms of NPIs.
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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