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 61 of 68
[Electrophysiological studies of chronic pelvic and perineal pain]
To describe electrophysiological studies, what they investigate, and their contribution and limitations in the assessment of pelvic and perineal pain. Description of the electrophysiological techniques generally used to evaluate somatic nerves of the pelvic and perineal region (analytical electromyography, nerve conduction velocities, reflexology), their applications and the difficulties of interpretation. Electrophysiological studies can demonstrate signs in favour of peripheral neuropathy, specify the axonal and/or demyelinating type of lesion, and provide topographic arguments on the type of trunk or nerve root involved (pudendal nerve, sacral nerve roots, ilioinguinal or iliohypogastric nerve, genitofemoral nerve, obturator nerve). Electrophysiological studies require a technically skilled operator and can provide a better understanding of some types of pain, but are not sufficiently sensitive and specific. The conclusions of electrophysiological study reports must be closely correlated with clinical findings.
limited evidenceThe wonders of mind-body practices during pregnancy: A topical review
This topical review provides an up-to-date overview of the latest advancements in mind-body therapies in the gynaecological research field. It explores the various mind-body practices and their multifaceted benefits for expectant mothers during the transformative phase of pregnancy, including physical, emotional, and psychological aspects. The research highlights the importance of these practices in promoting maternal and fetal well-being. Prenatal yoga is found to enhance physical health, reduce discomfort, and lower stress and anxiety levels, potentially leading to shorter labour durations. Meditation is revealed to reduce stress and anxiety while nurturing emotional resilience. Prenatal Pilates improves musculoskeletal health and prepares mothers for labour, emphasising controlled movements and breathing techniques. Breathing techniques prove to be helpful for pregnant women in effectively managing pain during labour. Acupressure and reflexology offer non-pharmacological pain relief for common discomforts. Tai Chi improves physical fitness, flexibility, and mental well-being. This brief review, using evidence available from pre-clinical studies in physiological gynaecology literature, demonstrates the role of mind-body practices in enhancing the pregnancy journey, emphasising their integration into daily routines to contribute to overall well-being. By selecting the right practice or combination, expectant mothers can experience an overall better pregnancy.
[Complex treatment of patients with chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency]
Chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency is the most common manifestation of chronic diseases of the nervous system. Its main causes are hypertension and atherosclerosis. Diseases debut mainly on 5-6th decade of life. The condition prohreiyentnyy, but the degree of progression can be varied--from slow to galloping. Therefore, when studying the effectiveness of treatment programs, in our opinion, it is important to include the medical complex of different methods of reflexology.
[Multiple sclerosis: new approaches to comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation using methods of reflexotherapy]
The article raises the question of integrated approaches to the treatment of multiple sclerosis, depending on the phase of the disease, type of course and comorbidity. The features of rehabilitation in this disease, discussed the feasibility of reflexology techniques in complex medical and rehabilitation measures.
Reflexology in the management of encopresis and chronic constipation
Encopresis or faecal incontinence in children is an extremely distressing condition that is usually secondary to chronic constipation/stool withholding. Traditional management with enemas may add to the child's distress. This study investigated the efficacy of treating patients with encopresis and chronic constipation with reflexology. An observational study was carried out of 50 children between three and 14 years of age who had a diagnosis of encopresis/chronic constipation. The children received six sessions of 30-minutes of reflexology to their feet. With the help of their parents they completed questionnaires on bowel motions and soiling patterns before, during and after the treatment. A further questionnaire was completed by parents pre and post treatment on their attitude towards reflexology. Forty-eight of the children completed the sessions. The number of bowel motions increased and the incidence of soiling decreased. Parents were keen to try the reflexology and were satisfied with the effect of reflexology on their child's condition. It appears that reflexology has been an effective method of treating encopresis and constipation over a six-week period in this cohort of patients.
Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines among Cancer Patients: A Single-Center Study
It is usual for cancer patients to use complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) and yet the literature evaluating their efficacy in cancer patients is very limited. The objective of the present study was to report on the nature, frequency of use, and patient-reported outcome of CAMs in a single-center study. All the consecutive patients treated between November 2017 and June 2018 at the Lucien Neuwirth Cancer Institute (France) were screened. Their reasons for using CAMs and their usage habits were collected. Patients evaluated their benefit. Of the 209 patients screened, 200 patients were included. CAMs ranged from osteopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture, healing touch, magnetism, naturopathy, suction cups, Chinese medicine, reflexology, to hypnosis. CAMs were widely used (n = 166, 83%), the first being osteopathy (n = 99, 49.5%), the second homeopathy (n = 78, 39.0%), and finally acupuncture (n = 76, 38.0%). Whatever the CAM, high satisfaction rates were reported (median satisfaction: 61-81%). CAMs were mainly used to prevent/treat side effects of anticancer treatments (81.2% for healing touch), increase well-being (55.4% for naturopathy), improve the immune system (16.9% for homeopathy), and treat cancer (n = 3, 5.1% for homeopathy). Patients could easily consider using CAMs, as up to 50.8% would have accepted a consultation. The reasons for using CAMs differed among patients. They praised CAMs and kept asking for more information although there is limited evidence about their efficacy in the literature. Thus, prospective randomized controlled trials exploring the safety and efficacy of CAMs in cancer patients are needed.
The emergence of trust in clinics of alternative medicine
Demands for alternative medicine have increased since the 1970s in nations in which western scientific evidence has become the basis for health care. This paradox has been the impetus to examine how trust emerges in clinics of alternative medicine. Alternative practitioners are self-regulated and the clients pay out of their own pockets to attend non-authorised treatments with very limited scientific evidence of their effects. Trust is a key issue in this context. However, only a few studies have dealt with the ways in which alternative practitioners win their clients' trust. Drawing on three qualitative studies and informing the empirical findings with a sociological concept of trust, this article provides new empirical insights on how trust emerges in Danish clinics of acupuncture, reflexology and homeopathy. The analysis demonstrates how trust is situational and emerges through both clients' susceptibility and practitioners' individual skill development and strategies, as well as from objects, place and space. Trust is developed on relational and bodily as well as material grounds. It is argued that the dynamics and elements of trust identified do not only minimalise uncertainties but sometimes convert these uncertainties into productive new ways for clients to address their ailments, life circumstances and perspectives.
Perspectives on reflexology: A qualitative approach
Reflexology is the systematic practice of applying some pressure to particular points on the feet and hands to impact on health of related parts of the body. To explore the practitioners' perspectives of reflexology in Malaysia. Data was collected using face-to-face semi-structured interviews with practitioners in Malaysia. The interviews were conducted in the Malay language and recorded. Interview conversations were translated and transcribed verbatim. Responses relating to different themes were identified in each of the interviews and a coding frame was developed. For each theme, the relevant data enabled a description of the range of views and experiences. Data collection and analysis were conducted concurrently and recruitment was stopped when saturation had been reached. All respondents gave written consent for their participation. The findings show that reflexology treatment nowadays has been accepted as one of the ways to maintain general health. Practitioners believe that reflexology is able to detect some problems in to the body, which can make patients aware of a health condition and seek further treatment. However, if reflexology is not performed correctly, it may cause negative effects such as pain and bruises. Some practitioners voiced concern that illegal activities are taking place in unethical reflexology centers. Empowering the practitioner as a professional would help gain the public's trust and confidence in their treatment. Strict enforcement of regulation related to illegal conduct in reflexology centers will improve people's perception of the practice.
Participatory action inquiry using baccalaureate nursing students: The inclusion of integrative health care modalities in nursing core curriculum
Nurses, nursing educators and students support the inclusion of integrative health care (IHC) into nursing core curriculum as a way to create nurses who deliver nursing care to the full extent of their scope of practice and advance evidenced based IHC. Because of the holistic nature of IHC modalities, research to investigate appropriate teaching strategies and potential efficacy of learning IHC in the baccalaureate core curriculum requires a holistic approach. Therefore a phenomenological exploration using participatory action inquiry was conducted at a large Midwestern university. Eighteen first year nursing students were selected as co-researchers. Their experiences in learning and delivering three 15 min IHC interventions (foot reflexology, lavender aromatherapy and mindful breathing) in an acute care setting were captured using reflexive journaling and participation in structured and organic communicative spaces. Of the patients approached, 67% accepted to receive one or more IHC modalities (147/219). Using van Manen's model for holistic data reduction three themes emerged: The experience of presence, competency and unexpected results. Learning IHC modalities is best supported by a self-reflective process that is constructed and modeled by a nurse faculty member with experience in delivering IHC modalities.
[The effectiveness of foot reflexotherapy on chronic pain associated with a herniated disk]
Foot reflexology is both a diagnostic technique and therapy. It is an alternative therapy which is considered useful in pain management. Its effectiveness as a therapy has been studied at the Mestre hospital where a clinical study has been undertaken to determine the effectiveness of reflexology in the reduction of pain. A group of 40 persons suffering almost exclusively from a lumbar-sacral disc hernia received three treatments of reflexology massage for a week. The results found that 25 persons (62.5%) reported a reduction in pain, (rating at 0.75 on a scale of 0-4). These results however did not take into consideration the relationship between the effectiveness of foot reflexology and variables such as the persons physicality (Body Mass Index), or their psychological or social status.
[Feet--a diagnostic tool?]
We wanted to test the specific theory behind foot reflexology. Three reflexotherapists examined 76 patients of whom they had no previous knowledge. They were to localize the patients' problems and complaints by examination of the foot soles only; they had no other information about the patients. Each patient and the therapist graded problems related to 13 different parts of the body. Interrater agreement, measured by weighted Kappa, ranged from 0.04 to 0.22, and was significantly better than chance (p < 0.05) for six parts of the body. The overall Kappa was 0.11 (95% CI: 0.08-0.14). A score based on a detailed examination of the "colon zone" showed no significant difference between patients with many or few distal intestinal complaints. Generally, the therapists tended to score higher than the patients, thus overdiagnosing problems. The statistical agreement may be better than pure chance, but is too low to be of any clinical significance.
Effect of Foot Reflexology as an Add-on Intervention on Pain Among Women Having Undergone Mastectomy
A single group quasi-experimental study was conducted among 40 women on the flrst day after they underwent mastectomy. Subjects were selected by convenience sampling technique. A single sessionfoot reflexology was administered among post-mastectomy women. Pain was assessed at baseline, post-test I (immediately after foot reflexology) and post-test II (30 minutes after foot reflexology). The findings revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the pain scores at baseline and both the post-tests (t (39) = 2.9, p <0.05 and t ,(39)= - 4.418, p < 0.05). A statistically significant reduction in physiologic parameters was also observed from the baseline (systolic BP at post-test I (t(39) = 2.470, p < 0.05).
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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