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 50 of 68
[Combined application of classical acupuncture, su-jok and craniopuncture in the acute period of ischemic stroke]
The disability of post-stroke patients is one of the most important problems of the modern medical community requiring the improvement of existing rehabilitation technologies through the wider use of non-drug treatment methods among which the most accessible are various modifications of reflexotherapy. To evaluate the effectiveness of the combined reflexology technique, including the combined use of classical acupuncture, su-jok and cranial acupuncture in the early rehabilitation of patients after ischemic stroke. Examination and course of early neurorehabilitation were carried out in 80 patients aged 47-78 years. Effectiveness evaluation of the different methods of reflexotherapy was carried out in 4 groups (20 patients each) comparable by age, gender and severity of stroke. In the main group the basic rehabilitation complex was supplemented by the combined use of classical, cranial acupuncture (with symmetrical stimulation of 7 main zones) and su-jok. Patients of the 1st comparison group additionally underwent only su-jok-therapy, the 2nd group - corporal acupuncture procedures in combination with cranial acupuncture, the 3rd group - the basic complex of rehabilitation without the inclusion of reflexotherapy. After 2 weeks' treatment in patients of the main group the regression of neurological symptoms according to the NIHSS scale was 5.3 points on average (76%, pppp<0.05). The indicators' improvement in the first two comparison groups was also significant across all scales but less pronounced than in the main group. The lowest values of the studied indicators were obtained in the 3rd comparison group. Improvement of neurorehabilitation technologies using combined techniques of reflexotherapy in the acute period of ischemic stroke is characterized by high clinical effectiveness that contributing to the regression of neurological symptoms and improvement of the psycho-emotional status of post-stroke patients which has a beneficial effect on their adaptation to
moderate evidenceThe Experiences of Touch Therapies in Symptom Management of Rural and Regional Cancer Patients in Australia
Cancer patients are increasingly combining touch therapies (e.g., remedial massage, lymphatic massage, and/or reflexology) with conventional treatments to deal with the impact of their cancer and treatments on their physical and mental well-being. To understand the impact of integrative oncology services on cancer patients, it is essential to explore the impact that various types of integrative oncology services have on cancer patients. This paper presents cancer patients' experiences with touch therapies in a community-based cancer support center and to identify opportunities for better access to these practices and service provision in Australia. A random selection of cancer patients (n=36) receiving touch therapies at a rural/regional community cancer center completed mixed-methods mail surveys regarding the use of touch therapies, their satisfaction, and the impact on pain, fatigue, nausea and overall well-being. Findings indicated that these services helped manage both physical and emotional symptoms. Of the participants experiencing pain and fatigue, findings revealed that touch therapies assisted with pain in 90% of participants and with fatigue in 70%. Given the increased and continued use of touch therapies by individuals with cancer, cancer centers should consider establishing touch therapy services or provide referrals to touch therapy services that can assist with symptom management and improve quality care. By more clearly understanding the benefits of the different types of integrative oncology interventions, patients with cancer receive more tailored and effective interventions throughout of their cancer journey.
limited evidence
Q3 JournalIntegrative Therapies for Women with a High Risk Pregnancy During Antepartum Hospitalization
High-risk pregnancies that require lengthy hospitalization can cause anxiety and stress for pregnant women. Integrative medicine therapies may be beneficial for this population, but have not been widely studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential effects of acupuncture, guided imagery, Healing Touch, massage therapy, and reflexology on pain and anxiety of hospitalized pregnant women. A retrospective analysis of the effects of integrative medicine therapies was conducted; N = 554 individual therapies were provided to hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies. They included acupuncture (n = 83), guided imagery (n = 71), Healing Touch (n = 119), massage therapy (n = 196), and reflexology (n = 85) over an 18-month period. Pain and anxiety were measured pre- and posttherapy using a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means no pain or no anxiety and 10 means high pain or high anxiety. Analysis of mean scores of pre- and posttherapies for pain and anxiety found a decrease of pain and anxiety after all of the therapies, ranging from an 84.5% to 61.4% decrease for pain (p < .0001) and a 91% to 70. 9% decrease for anxiety (p < .0001). Overall, patients rated their anxiety higher than pain prior to each therapy. Hospitalized pregnant women responded favorably to the therapies. There were no adverse reactions reported. Results suggest potential benefits of integrative medicine therapies for this group of inpatients. Anxiety was more prevalent than pain among hospitalized pregnant women who received integrative medicine therapy.
The Benefits of Reflexology for the Chronic Pain Patient in a Military Pain Clinic
Chronic pain is a major cause of disability across the military, especially for the combat Soldier. More than twothirds of Americans with chronic pain are now using complementary medicine. Patients with chronic pain opting for reflexology as part of their treatment plan received bilateral therapy. Alternating pressure was applied to the individual patient's reflex points corresponding to their pain sites. Following a single treatment session, patients were asked to complete a short survey. There is evidence that reflexology is therapeutic for many conditions, to include sleep and anxiety, both of which can be comorbidity in the patient with chronic pain. There is a lack of evidence on the use of reflexology with chronic pain patients receiving multidisciplinary pain care. A total of 311 participants completed the survey. Posttreatment pain scored decreased by a median of 2 points (interquartile range [IQR] 1-3) on a 10-point pain scale. This represents a median 43% (IQR 25%-60%) reduction in pain for males and a 41% (IQR 30%-60%) reduction in pain for females. Currently research is limited on effects of reflexology in treating chronic pain, yet, like acupuncture, this is an inexpensive, reliable, teachable, and simple noninvasive treatment. Further studies are warranted.
Complementary Medicine for Treating Emotional Exhaustion and Burnout of Frontline Healthcare Providers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Burnout is prevalent among healthcare providers and characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated burnout due to increased workloads, emotional strain, and heightened risk. Complementary medicine (CAM) interventions like shiatsu massage and reflexology have been explored as potential to mitigate burnout, particularly pandemic-related stress. To assess the efficacy of CAM interventions for alleviating burnout in healthcare providers treating COVID-19 patients during 2022, when the Delta variant was prevalent. This prospective observational study included 86 healthcare providers at Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus. Workers were divided into two groups: an intervention group participating in CAM activities and a control group. Participant burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were evaluated using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and General Anxiety Disorder 7 at baseline and at one day and one week post-intervention. The CAM group demonstrated significant reduction in burnout scores, primarily due to an enhanced sense of accomplishment (P = 0.023), with enduring effects observed after one week, although not reaching statistical significance (P = 0.078). There was no observed difference in PTSD scores between the groups (P = 0.28). The study reveals potential benefits of CAM interventions in reducing burnout symptoms among healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings underscore the importance of integrating such interventions to address the mental well-being of healthcare providers, especially in high-stress environments. Further randomized controlled trials with diverse samples and extended follow-up are recommended to validate and explore these initial findings.
[Children with ear disorders who are treated by reflexologists or general practitioners]
The aim of the study was to describe similarities and differences in health, quality of life, and diagnosed morbidity in 0-6 year-old children whose parents contact either a reflexologist or a general practitioner (GP) due to their child's ear disorder. A total of 98 children who received reflexology treatment and 57 children who received treatment by a GP were included. Reflexologists and GPs described the child's symptoms, the parents completed a questionnaire about health status and ear disorders and a specialist examined and diagnosed the child. The most prevalent symptoms were colds and troubled sleep and the least prevalent were inflammation of the throat and poor spoken language. Parents in the reflexology group considered their children to be more ill than parents in the GP group (measured by number of ear disorders, number of antibiotic treatments, number of sickness days during the past year and the duration of the acute ear disorder). Furthermore, parents in the reflexology group reported that their children had more physical discomfort, more activity limitations and more emotional problems than children treated by GPs and the parents themselves were also more troubled by the ear disorder. The specialist examination showed no differences between the two groups of children, neither according to tympanometry nor according to diagnosis. According to a medical evaluation there was no difference in morbidity between children treated by a reflexologist and a GP. According to the parents' evaluation, children in reflexology treatment were more ill and their health-related quality of life was more affected by the ear disorder than that of children treated by a GP.
Efficacy of Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Managing Restless Leg Syndrome in Hemodialysis Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study in South India
This study investigates the efficacy of non-pharmacological therapies in treating restless leg syndrome (RLS), a neurological condition causing discomfort and sleep disruption, with India potentially leading the way in the coming years. The study used a quasi-experimental design at the Abirami Kidney Center in Karur, screening 72 hemodialysis patients, 30 of whom had RLS. Fifteen samples were allocated for the study group and 15 for the control group, and interventions were administered to the study group. The study found significant differences in symptoms, quality of life, and sleep levels among the experimental group compared to the control group. Effleurage massage therapy, foot reflexology, and IEC on sleep hygiene were found to improve sleep quality, reduce RLS symptoms, and enhance hematolysis patients' quality of life. This feasibility study's results could guide larger-scale trials and offer valuable insights into the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in managing RLS.
Instructor receives inquiry regarding article on foot reflexology and cancer
An instructor received a question from someone asking about an article claiming foot reflexology could help with cancer. This appears to be a discussion or correspondence piece examining that inquiry rather than a research study testing reflexology's effects.
preliminary evidence[The effects of foot reflexology on nausea, vomiting and fatigue of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy]
The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of foot reflexology on nausea, vomiting and fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The research was a quasi-experimental study using a non-equivalent pre-post design and was conducted from Jan. 26, to Mar. 20, 2004. The subjects consisted of 34 patients with 18 in the experimental group and 16 in control group. A pretest and 2 posttests were conducted to measure nausea, vomiting and fatigue. For the experimental group, foot reflexology, which was consisted of 4 phases for 40 minutes, was given by a researcher and 4 research assistants. The collected data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA using the SPSS WIN 10.0 program. There was a statistically significant decrease in nausea, and vomiting in the experimental group compared to the control group over two different times. In addition, there was a statistically significant decrease in fatigue in the experimental group compared to the control group over two different times. Foot reflexology was effective on nausea, vomiting and fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in this study. Therefore, foot reflexology can be usefully utilized as a nursing intervention in the field of cancer nursing for breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
Well-being treatments in cancer care: patient benefits
Well-being care is widely offered and delivered in patients with cancer. However, very few studies have rigorously evaluated its benefits. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of four well-being treatments (foot reflexology, socio-aesthetics, sophrology and singing) provided in a healthcare facility. Three hundred and seventy-four patients with cancer were offered a well-being treatment and agreed to evaluate the type of treatment received, the benefits felt as a result, and numerical evaluation scales for pain and well-being before and after the session. The distribution of well-being treatments provided was as follows: foot reflexology: 19.0%, socio-aesthetics: 63.9%, sophrology: 6.7%, singing: 10.4%. The average gain in pain relief was 1.01 on a scale of 0-10 (p-5) and on well-being 6.97 on a scale of -10 to +10 (p-5). One patient (0.3%) experienced pain induced by a foot reflexology session and one patient (0.3%) experienced a deterioration in well-being following a singing session. The well-being treatments studied provided significant pain relief and increased well-being in patients with cancer after their completion.
The Effect of Educational Program for New Mothers about Infant Abdominal Massage and Foot Reflexology for Decreasing Colic at Najran City
As part of an emerging movement in complementary therapy, the practice of infant foot reflexology and abdominal massage is gaining widespread acceptance as a therapeutic approach to the relief of infantile colic. The objective of the current research is to offer an evaluation of knowledge, attitudes and practice amongst new mothers in relation to infant massage and reflexology. Specifically, the intention is to apply any insights gained to the establishment of appropriate educational programmes in line with the requirements of new mothers. This is to be achieved through the appraisal of any perceived improvements in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of new mothers following the completion of any programme. A quasi-experimental design is adopted in this research and applied in the setting of the outpatient clinic at the University Hospital in Najran, Saudi Arabia. A convenience sample, comprising sixty-two new mothers, all of whom have infants ranging in age from one month to four months. All the infants experience colic. The first instrument employed in this research comprises a structured interview wherein interviewees are presented with a two-part sheet. Section one is devoted to the obtaining of socio-demographic data regarding the mothers and the infants, whilst section two consists of a questionnaire devoted to gauging the level of knowledge of new mothers. The second research instrument is an observation checklist aimed at evaluating the practical skills of new mothers, whereas the third research tool employed in this study is a Likert scale which judges the attitudes of new mothers toward foot reflexology and abdominal massage. The findings of the research reveal that most new mothers demonstrated improvements to their attitudes, knowledge, and practice following the programme. Specifically, there was found to be statistically significant correlation between the age, educational level, and work experience of new mothers and their scores for attitudes, kn
Evaluation of efficacy and feasibility of foot reflexology in children experiencing chronic or persistent pain
Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) are increasingly used in the therapeutic arsenal, particularly for pain management. Foot reflexology (FR) is still poorly evaluated, specifically in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of FR sessions in children experiencing chronic or persistent pain. We conducted a prospective study in two pediatric centers from January 2011 to January 2014. Sessions of FR were offered to children regardless of their age, experiencing persistent pain (>72h) or chronic pain (>3 months). A form was completed by the patient before and after each FR sessions. The effectiveness of the session was evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for both pain and anxiety. One hundred and twenty-two patients suffering from persistent pain were included. We observed a significant decrease of mean VAS pain scores after each session (respectively P<0.001, P<0.001 and P=0.015) and of mean VAS anxiety scores (P<0.001) for all sessions). Seventy patients suffering from chronic pain were included. Decrease in VAS pain scores was statistically significant after each reflexology session for children suffering from headache and musculoskeletal pain (P<0.001). Anxiety was significantly lower after each session (P<0.001). In 192 pediatric patients, FR significantly reduce pain and anxiety in children suffering from persistent or chronic pain. This CAM could have a place in pain management in children but needs to be evaluated in larger cohorts.
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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