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 55 of 68
Integrative reflexology: a therapy within a naturopathic nursing practice
This paper explores how reflexology is used within naturopathic nursing practice. The author examines reflexology as an integrative therapy and discusses how nurses incorporate it into holistic patient care.
preliminary evidence
Q2 JournalReflexology: uncharted waters
This paper examines the current state of reflexology research and identifies gaps in scientific understanding. The author discusses why reflexology remains poorly understood and calls for more rigorous investigation into how it works and whether it is truly effective.
Healing the sole
The benefits of reflexology are explored in the fourth article in our series on complementary and alternative therapies.
[How does reflexology enrich nursing care? 2. A reflexologic follow-up in intensive care service]
This study examined how reflexology could be integrated into nursing care for patients in intensive care units. The researchers followed patients receiving reflexologic treatment as part of their nursing care, but the paper provides limited detail about specific outcomes or findings.
limited evidenceThe physiological basis of reflexology and its use as a potential diagnostic tool
Ill-health changes the anatomy and physiology of affected organs, some of which can be observed visually, elicited through physical examination or confirmed through biomedical analysis. Understanding how anatomical changes contribute to physiological signs and symptoms will help practitioners identify the pathology, appreciate its origin and development and justify prescribed interventions in a way which can be upheld by critical external scrutiny. Reflexology contributes to an holistic approach to care and has recently improved its credibility as a discipline which supports orthodox care. Several research publications have identified possible theories and principles for the mechanism of action of reflexology, but more research to explain its contribution in identifying ill-health and diseases, as well as appropriate treatment modalities, is needed. This paper explores the physiological basis of reflexology, some of the theories for the mechanism of action and its potential as a diagnostic tool.
Complementary therapy in practice
Dorothy Crowther describes the evolution of the Wirral Holistic Care Services, a company dedicated to helping people cope with cancer. Based on a recognition that such patients want more than the standard NHS fare, initial evaluations suggest that the company is going some way to meeting the extra needs of this group. Available therapies include aromatherapy, kinesiology, reflexology and meditation, incorporating a model of care which endorses putting the patient first.
Use of reflexology foot massage to reduce anxiety in hospitalized cancer patients in chemotherapy treatment: methodology and outcomes
To examine the effectiveness of reflexology foot massage in hospitalized cancer patients undergoing second or third chemotherapy cycles. Since the late-1970s, studies have been conducted to assess the efficacy of behavioural and relaxation approaches in controlling nausea/vomiting, anxiety and other side-effects associated with chemotherapy. The study consisted of 30 patients being admitted to the oncology unit at a Scientific Research Hospital in Italy. Only 15 of the 30 participants received therapeutic massage. The subjects' self-reports of anxiety (measured by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) were recorded before, after and 24 hours after the intervention. There was an average decrease of 7.9 points on the state-anxiety scale in the treatment group and of 0.8 points in the control group (P < 0.0001). Reflexology foot massage can be considered a support treatment used in combination with traditional medical treatments and executed by an expert, qualified person to help cancer patients receiving chemotherapy feel better and also cope better with their disease.
Structural reflex zone therapy in pregnancy and childbirth: a new approach
This paper is adapted from Denise Tiran's forthcoming new book on pregnancy reflexology, and introduces an innovative new approach which has been termed "structural reflex zone therapy". From a reflexology perspective structural reflex zone therapy (RZT) draws on the Hanne Marquardt system, but is based also on the principles of osteopathy, in which the musculoskeletal system is seen as the main supporting framework of the body and the feet are used purely as a medium through which misalignments can be treated. Structural reflex zone therapy is based on the author's clinical work and research over a 25-year period, and although specifically applied here to maternity care, could easily be adapted for other clinical specialities. In this paper, the way in which structural RZT can be helpful for two particular pregnancy conditions - stress and backache - is considered.
[Research on agitation. Reflexology enters intensive care]
This study explored whether reflexology could help reduce agitation in patients in intensive care units. The researchers examined how reflexology might be used as a complementary approach in critical care settings, though specific outcomes are not detailed in the available information.
A single-blind trial of reflexology for irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a significant problem for primary care, as treatment options are limited and it can frequently develop into a chronic condition. Complementary and alternative medicine, including reflexology, is being turned to increasingly in an attempt to manage symptoms. There are currently no studies which address the effectiveness of reflexology for IBS. Despite this, it continues to be advocated and used. To provide the first evidence on the effectiveness of reflexology in the management of the core defining symptoms of IBS. A single-blind trial carried out in primary care settings. Thirty-four participants diagnosed with IBS on the basis of the Rome Criteria. Participants were allocated to receive either a reflexology foot massage or a non-reflexology foot massage control group. On none of the three symptoms monitored--abdominal pain, constipation/diarrhoea, and abdominal distention--was there a statistically or clinically significant difference between reflexology and control groups. On the basis of these results there is nothing to suggest that reflexology produces any specific benefit for patients with IBS. There is currently no evidence to support its use. However this was one (relatively) small scale study; further research that, for example, assesses the impact of therapist (professional and lay) versus therapy, is still needed.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Examining the Effects of Reflexology on Children With Functional Constipation
Functional constipation is a common problem in Turkey that affects up to 10% of children. Reflexologists claim that reflexology can be beneficial in the treatment of constipation. The aim of this randomized controlled study was to determine the effectiveness of reflexology in treating functional constipation in children. Thirty-seven children who were referred to a pediatrician with functional constipation as defined by the Rome III criteria were recruited to the study. After the physician's diagnosis, two groups (intervention/control) were created. The intervention and control groups comprised 17 and 20 children, respectively. Each child in the intervention group was given a foot massage for 10 minutes five times a week, and toilet/diet/motivation training was given to their parents. The test period lasted for 4 weeks. Toilet/diet/motivation training was undertaken for 30 minutes once per week (for a total of 4 weeks) in an interactive manner. The parents of children in the control group received equivalent toilet/diet/motivation training only. No significant differences in terms of feces frequency and feces consistency were noted between the intervention and control groups (p > .05). This study sample showed that only toilet/diet/motivation training had potential benefit for treating functional constipation in children. Further larger randomized trials are required to establish whether there are benefits to foot message in the treatment of functional constipation in children.
Neural correlates of a single-session massage treatment
The current study investigated the immediate neurophysiological effects of different types of massage in healthy adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Much attention has been given to the default mode network, a set of brain regions showing greater activity in the resting state. These regions (i.e. insula, posterior and anterior cingulate, inferior parietal and medial prefrontal cortices) have been postulated to be involved in the neural correlates of consciousness, specifically in arousal and awareness. We posit that massage would modulate these same regions given the benefits and pleasant affective properties of touch. To this end, healthy participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: 1. Swedish massage, 2. reflexology, 3. massage with an object or 4. a resting control condition. The right foot was massaged while each participant performed a cognitive association task in the scanner. We found that the Swedish massage treatment activated the subgenual anterior and retrosplenial/posterior cingulate cortices. This increased blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal was maintained only in the former brain region during performance of the cognitive task. Interestingly, the reflexology massage condition selectively affected the retrosplenial/posterior cingulate in the resting state, whereas massage with the object augmented the BOLD response in this region during the cognitive task performance. These findings should have implications for better understanding how alternative treatments might affect resting state neural activity and could ultimately be important for devising new targets in the management of mood disorders.
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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