Reflexology Research & Science

The Effects of Foot Reflexology for Smoking Cessation on Brain Activities with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI): A Pilot Study

Wattanaruangkowit Pisit, Muengtaweepongsa Sombat, Kengganpanich Mondha, Kengganpanich TharadolEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM2022

Foot reflexology is a treatment with the hypothesis that such massage stimulation on the feet may cause a therapeutic effect which should be helpful for smoking cessation. However, its mechanism of action in the brain of smoking people remains unknown. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is helpful for real-time brain activity detection. We aim to compare the brain activity effects of foot reflexology with fMRI between smoking and nonsmoking subjects. We divided participants into experimental (smokers) and control groups (nonsmokers). Both groups received similar foot reflexology under the fMRI examination. Then, we compared the mean response score in each brain area before and after foot stimulation among groups and between groups. Five nonsmokers and fifteen smokers had completed the study. All participants were right-handed males, with a mean age of 38.6 years. The fMRI brain response in the areas correlated with foot stimulation, including the precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe and the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe, was present for all participants. The fMRI response outside the correlated area, including other parts of the frontal and parietal lobes, the temporal and occipital cortices, and the thalamus, was also found in all participants, but was not consistent. The fMRI of the brain is feasible and safe for demonstrating foot reflexology reactions. The response signal outside the correlated motor-sensory cortical area with foot reflexology may have clinical significance and may be helpful for smoking cessation. We suggest conducting a large-scale, randomized controlled trial to confirm these findings.

preliminary evidencePilot Studyn=20Q2 Journal

Foot Reflexology with Caring Consciousness to Reduce Pain in Older Adults: An Integrative Review

Rosas-Cervantes Elisa, Jiménez-González María de Jesús, Rodrigues Rosalina Aparecida Partezani, Fernandes Daiane, Aya Roa Kevin JuliánFlorence Nightingale journal of nursing2024

To analyze the evidence available on foot reflexology with application of caring consciousness to reduce pain in older adults Integrative review carried out in Medline/PubMed, CINAHL, EBSCO Host, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases using the MESH terms "Aged," "Pain," "Musculoskeletal manipulations," "Nursing," and "Nursing theory." in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French published between 2012 and 2022. The selected studies were exported to Rayyan software and evaluated by title and abstract; after reading the full text, were analyzed according to the PRISMA guide checklist. In this study, 497 articles were found, 4 were selected. 75% of the studies were based on the Ingham method of reflexology. The elements that demonstrate caring consciousness and enhance the healing effect of the therapy were foot grooming, use of essential oils, implementation of relaxation techniques, description of pressure points and combining other therapies. In 75% of the cases, foot reflexology was effective to reduce pain. Those authors who apply caring consciousness in the technique of reflexology obtained more significant results in the reduction of pain. The incorporation of external elements shows the intention of nursing to enhance the effects of the therapy, as well as the search for connection with the elderly.

limited evidenceSystematic Review

The effects of foot reflexology on symptoms of discomfort in palliative care: a feasibility study.

Marie Lavarelo Marcolin, Andréa Tarot, Véronique Lombardo, Bruno Pereira, Axelle Van Lander, Virginie GuastellaBMC complementary medicine and therapies2023

This study tested whether foot reflexology could help reduce discomfort symptoms in patients receiving palliative care (comfort-focused treatment for serious illness). The researchers conducted a feasibility study to see if this approach was practical and worth studying further, though the paper's title indicates this was an exploratory pilot rather than a full-scale trial.

preliminary evidencePilot StudyQ2 Journal

Reflexology in the management of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Seda Kurt, Gulbeyaz CanEuropean journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society2018

This pilot study tested whether reflexology could help cancer patients manage nerve pain and numbness caused by chemotherapy. Researchers randomly assigned participants to receive reflexology or standard care and measured changes in their symptoms and quality of life.

preliminary evidencePilot StudyQ2 JournalPeripheral NeuropathyChemotherapy Side EffectsCancer Pain Management

Acupuncture and reflexology for insomnia: a feasibility study.

Ciara M Hughes, Carey A McCullough, Ian Bradbury, Carol Boyde, Diane Hume, Jiang Yuan et al.Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society2011

This feasibility study examined whether acupuncture and reflexology could be tested as treatments for insomnia in a larger research trial. The researchers worked out the practical steps needed to run such a study, laying groundwork for future research on these therapies.

preliminary evidencePilot StudyQ2 JournalInsomnia

Review of diabetic frozen shoulder.

C Whelton, C A PeachEuropean journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie2018

limited evidenceSystematic ReviewFrozen ShoulderDiabetes (Supportive)

Effectiveness of Mulligan manual therapy over exercise on headache frequency, intensity and disability for patients with migraine, tension-type headache and cervicogenic headache - a protocol of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

Kiran Satpute, Nilima Bedekar, Toby HallBMC musculoskeletal disorders2021

This paper describes the plan for a study comparing Mulligan manual therapy to exercise for treating different types of headaches (migraine, tension-type, and cervicogenic headache). The researchers have not yet conducted the study or reported results—this is the protocol (the blueprint) explaining how they will do the research.

preliminary evidencePilot StudyQ2 JournalMigrainesTension Headaches

[In what way does reflexology enrich nursing care?]

Aubert M, Barrault M F, Donzallaz E, Gmunder A, Tissot MKrankenpflege. Soins infirmiers1993

This study explored how reflexology can be integrated into nursing care to improve patient outcomes. The researchers examined the potential benefits and applications of reflexology within a nursing context, though specific findings were not detailed in the available information.

limited evidenceQualitativeQ4 Journal

A proposed reductionist solution to address the methodological challenges of inconsistent reflexology maps and poor experimental controls in reflexology research: a discussion paper

Jones Jenny, Thomson Patricia, Lauder William, Leslie Stephen JJournal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)2013

Reflexology is a complex massage intervention, based on the concept that specific areas of the feet (reflex points) correspond to individual internal organs within the body. Reflexologists trained in the popular Ingham reflexology method claim that massage to these points, using massage techniques unique to reflexology, stimulates an increase in blood supply to the corresponding organ. Reflexology researchers face two key methodological challenges that need to be addressed if a specific treatment-related hemodynamic effect is to be scientifically demonstrated. The first is the problem of inconsistent reflexology foot maps; the second is the issue of poor experimental controls. This article proposes a potential experimental solution that we believe can address both methodological challenges and in doing so, allow any specific hemodynamic treatment effect unique to reflexology to experimentally reveal itself.

preliminary evidenceQualitativeQ2 Journal

Towards better health with reflexology

Barron HNursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)

This paper discusses reflexology as a therapeutic approach to improve health and wellbeing. The author presents an overview of reflexology principles and their potential benefits, though specific study details are limited.

preliminary evidenceObservationalQ2 Journal

[Shiatsu massage and reflexology in nursing practice]

Muret-Stucki GKrankenpflege. Soins infirmiers1980

This 1980 paper examines how shiatsu massage and reflexology can be integrated into nursing care. The authors explore the potential benefits of these touch-based therapies as complementary practices within professional nursing settings.

limited evidenceObservationalQ4 Journal

Improving the reporting of reflexology intervention studies

James Jacqueline, Costello Joseph T, Drahota Amy KComplementary therapies in medicine2025

This paper is a protocol paper that outlines how reflexology studies should be better reported and designed in the future. Rather than testing reflexology itself, the authors provide guidance to help researchers conduct and publish higher-quality reflexology studies so the evidence base can improve.

preliminary evidenceObservationalQ2 Journal