Reflexology Research Articles

Effect of foot reflexology massage on sleep, anxiety and quality of life in hemodialysis patients: A single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate the effects of reflexology foot massage on sleep, anxiety, and quality of life as compared to foot massage only in patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. MethodsThis study was conducted as a single blinded randomized placebo-controlled parallel-group trial. Data were collected using the “Demographic Characteristics Form”, “Richards-Campbell Sleep Scale”, “State-Trait Anxiety Inventory” and “Nottingham Health Profile”. Individuals in the reflexology and placebo groups received massages for three weeks; three times a week, for 15 minutes on each foot. Participants in the reflexology and placebo groups were followed-up before the massage and after the ninth massage session. ResultsIn the statistical evaluation of the sleep quality scale mean scores, after the ninth massage session, it was determined that the average sleep score of the reflexology massage group was higher than that of the placebo group. Additionally, the state anxiety level was found to be lower in the reflexology group compared to the placebo group. As for the quality of life after the ninth massage session, it was determined that there was an improvement in the reflexology massage group compared to the placebo group. ConclusionsThis study has found that foot reflexology massage is effective in reducing anxiety levels, improving sleep, and enhancing the quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. The findings of this study may offer nurses greater awareness of the potential benefits of reflexology. In this way, more healthcare professionals can be encouraged to use reflexology in addition to other cares.

Lifestyle Interventions vs. Multi Interventional Therapy on Physiological Parameters of Metabolic Syndrome among Women: A Comparative Study.

Metabolic syndrome is one of the emerging health issues in developing countries. It includes diabetes, high Blood Pressure (BP), obesity, and elevated blood cholesterol. This comparative study was conducted from March 2019 to February 2020 in selected areas of Ernakulam district, Kerala. The study used a quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent control group. One-way analysis of variance and paired t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Women (aged between 35 and 55 years) with metabolic syndrome were recruited by multistage sampling (N = 220) and randomly assigned into three groups: (a) control, (b) Lifestyle Interventions (LI), and (c) Multi Interventional Therapy (MIT). LI was given to the LI group, and reflexology foot massage along with LI was given to the MIT group for 12 weeks. The control group received routine care. Physiological variables were assessed before and after the intervention. Women who received MIT and LI had significantly lower values of weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist circumference after the treatment from baseline and compared with control (F = 12.09, 15.58, 22.37, p < 0.001). A remarkable change in systolic and diastolic BP was found in the MIT group (pretest mean of systolic BP and diastolic BP in control: 142.3 and 90.1, LI: 141.7 and 89.7, MIT: 141.8 and 89.8, p = 0.945, posttest means control: 142.6 and 90.4, LI: 131.5 and 85.5, MIT: 118.5 and 78.3, (F = 54.83, 57.87, p < 0.001). Both LI and MIT should be considered as interventions for reducing the physiological parameters of metabolic syndrome, such as body weight, BMI, and obesity. MIT was found to be more effective in reducing blood pressure.

The Application of Foot Reflexology for Anxiety and Pain Management in Women's Childbirth: A Literature Review

Context: Uncontrolled childbirth anxiety (CA) and labor pain (LP) may cause negative consequences for the mother during subsequent deliveries. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of foot reflexology (F-REFL) on reducing LP and CA during childbirth in the form of a review study. Evidence Acquisition: In this literature review, the findings were collected by evaluating the results of previous similar studies in the last three decades. The most important and common medical subject headings (MeSH) terms related to the topic under discussion were identified to conduct this study. Then, the most relevant studies were searched, and 226 studies were identified at this stage by searching them in the most reliable and essential international databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 26 studies were identified to extract the results. Results: Most of the previous research studies were clinical trials, and their findings showed that F-REFL significantly reduces LP and CA. Conclusions: Foot reflexology has been shown to reduce LP and CA, making it an easy, cheap, and noninvasive method to reduce cesareans. Implementing this method is simple and does not require specialized personnel, and midwives can efficiently perform for mothers during childbirth. Additionally, reducing LP and CA experienced during birth through F-REFL improves women's positive birth experiences and protects postpartum mental health.

Comparison of two methods of complementary medicine on postoperative pain and anxiety: A randomized clinical trial.

Postoperative pain and anxiety are unpleasant situations that are often experienced by women undergoing cesarean section. Since the routine methods of pain relief after surgery is still inadequate, the need for complementary treatments is felt. Foot Reflexology (FR) and Auricular Acupressure (AA) are two of the most popular and safe procedures of complementary and alternative medicine therapies. So, this study aimed to determine and compare the effectiveness of reflexology and AA on postoperative pain and anxiety. This three-group randomized clinical trial study was performed on 101 pregnant women, admitted to Mashhad Omolbanin hospital, for a cesarean section, in 2015. In the intervention groups, 2-3 h after the operation, AA or FR was performed for 20 min. Routine care was provided for the control group. Pain and anxiety were evaluated by VAS and Spielberger anxiety questionnaire before and 1 and 2 h after the intervention. The results showed that immediately after the intervention, pain intensity was significantly lower in both AA and FR groups (P < 0.001) compared with the control group. In addition, 2 h after the interventions, pain intensity was significantly lower in the AA group compared with the control group (P = 0.006). However, no significant differences were observed between the FR and the control groups (P = 0.095). In addition, 1 and 2 h after the intervention, anxiety was significantly different between the three groups (P = 0.033 and P = 0.018), respectively. The results of the Tukey test showed that this difference was only between FR and control groups (P = 0.025 and P = 0.017), respectively. AA is more effective in reducing post-cesarean pain while FR effectively reduces post-cesarean anxiety. Therefore, these complementary medicine treatments as easy and noninvasive methods are recommended to be used during labor for improving maternal outcomes.

Comparison of the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions and multi-interventional therapy on biochemical parameters of metabolic syndrome among women.

Metabolic syndrome is one of the emerging health issues in developing countries. It includes diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and elevated blood cholesterol. This study aimed to compare the effects of two different types of interventions: multi-interventional therapy (MIT) and lifestyle interventions (LIs) on high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, and fasting blood sugar (FBS) among women with metabolic syndrome. The study used a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design with two experimental groups and one control group. This study was conducted among self-help group women from nine area development societies (ADS) in a selected area in South India from March 1, 2019, to February 28, 2020. Women (aged between 35 and 55 years) with metabolic syndrome were recruited by multistage sampling (N = 220) and randomly assigned into three groups: (a) control, (b) MIT (intervention 1), and (c) LIs (intervention 2). Reflexology foot massage, dietary modification, moderate-intensity exercise, and structured education were given to the MIT group and dietary modification, moderate-intensity exercise, and structured education were given to the LI group for 12 weeks. The control group received routine care. A demographic and clinical data sheet is used to collect the basic information. Biochemical variables (HDL, triglycerides, and FBS) were assessed before and after the intervention. The data obtained from the study were computed using a frequency distribution to describe the demographic characteristics, and a Chi-square (x2) test was conducted to find the homogeneity. Both parametric and nonparametric tests were conducted for the comparison of the effectiveness of different methods of interventions on biochemical parameters of metabolic syndrome. Women who received MIT and LI had significantly lower values of HDL, triglycerides, and FBS after the treatment from baseline and compared with the control group. The study found a significant improvement in the biochemical parameters in the MIT group as compared to the control group and the LI group (<0.001). Paired t-test shows significant improvement in HDL, triglycerides, and FBS (P < 0.001) in both the LI and MIT groups. In case of triglycerides, MIT was found to be more effective (P < 0.001). Both MIT and LIs can be considered interventions for reducing triglycerides and FBS and increasing HDL.

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.

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

BackgroundIn palliative care, the relief of discomfort is sought by an overall approach, combining prescribed medication and additional therapies, such as foot reflexology (FR). The main objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of FR in a population of inpatients in a palliative care unit (PCU).The precariousness of the patients led us to perform a feasibility study and not a cohort study from the outset. Its secondary objective was to assess the impact of an FR session on some symptoms of discomfort (anxiety, pain, troubled sleep, and psychological distress).MethodsThis is a feasibility study designed as a randomized controlled two-arm therapeutic trial. One arm tested FR, the other an active control, massage therapy (MT). The evaluators were blinded.ResultsFR was feasible for 14 patients out of the 15 included in the FR group (95% CI [68%; 100%]). These patients were in the palliative care phase of cancer, motor neuron disease, or terminal organ failure. Concerning the symptoms of discomfort, ESAS sleep quality score was on average 3.9 (± 2.5) before a session in the FR group. It was improved to an average of 3 (± 2.3) on the day after the session (effect-size = 0.38 [0.03; 0.73]).ConclusionThis study confirms the feasibility of an FR session for patients hospitalized in a PCU. It resulted in a slight improvement in sleep quality. For other discomfort symptoms such as anxiety, pain and distress, FR yielded a non-significant improvement. Significant results would have needed a larger cohort.

Effect of Reflexology Foot Massage on Pain intensity and Physical Functional Abilities Among Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Effect of Reflexology Foot Massage on Pain intensity and Physical Functional Abilities Among Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Effect of foot reflexology on premenstrual syndrome among nursing students at Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a prevalent health issue among adolescents. It is one of the most frequent conditions affecting women of reproductive age, and it can have a considerable impact on daily activities and can considerably reduce female’s quality of life. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of foot reflexology on premenstrual syndrome among nursing students at Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University. Subjects and method: A quasi-experimental research design was carried out. A convenient sample of 100 students was recruited to participate in the study. Two tools of data collection were used: Tool I was socio demographic data and menstrual history structured interview schedule, tool II was a modified version of premenstrual symptoms screening tool for clinicians (PMSST). Results: The study results revealed that the total score of PMS severity was a statistically significant before and after two months of the intervention among the study group, p=0.000. However, the difference was not statistically significant among the control group (P=0.379). There was also statistically significant difference between the study and control groups after two months of the intervention in favor of the former, where (p= 0.000). In addition, the negative effect of PMS on daily life activities significantly decreased among the study group after two months of the intervention p=0.000. Conclusion and recommendations: The study concluded that the female students who received reflexology foot massage exhibited less severity of premenstrual symptoms than those who received placebo foot massage. It is recommended that reflexology foot massage should be advised as a non-pharmacological management to relieve PMS

STUDI LITERATUR: PENGARUH TERAPI PIJAT REFLEKSI KAKI TERHADAP KELELAHAN PADA PASIEN HEMODIALISIS

Hemodialysis can cause various kinds of problems including fatigue, around 7-92% of hemodialysis patients experience fatigue. One of the therapies that can overcome this fatigue is reflexology foot massage therapy. This literature review aims to determine the effect of foot reflexology massage on hemodialysis patients with fatigue problems. The design in this scientific paper is a literature review search using electronic data base namely ProQuest and Pubmed. The keywords used in the search are hemodialysis, foot reflexology, fatigue. inclusion criteria used in the article are accessible full text available in english and indonesian years the articles used are limited to the last ten years, results are found each of 2 articles from google schoolar and pubmed, from the four articles discussing the effectiveness of foot reflexology massage on the decline fatigue in hemodialysis patients. The results of the study showed the benefits of foot reflexology in reducing fatigue in hemodialysis patients

Foot reflexology in painful conditions: systematic review

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Because foot reflexology is commonly associated with other interventions, its benefits are difficult to establish. In addition, systematic reviews have been carried out many years ago, analyzing unspecific parameters and with controversial results. Thus, the objectives of this study were: to analyze the results of randomized controlled trials with a control group in painful conditions, using foot reflexology as a single intervention; describe the proposed application and methodological quality of the studies (PEDro scale). CONTENTS: The PEDro, Pubmed, Scielo and LILACS data bases were consulted, searching for clinical trials with the following keywords and Boolean index: Foot Reflexology AND pain; reflexology foot massage AND pain (English, Portuguese and Spanish). These keywords should have been present in the title or summary of the article for inclusion, directing to pain and moving away from other variables. 95 studies were found, 17 were selected and most of the results were favorable. The usual application varies from 2-30 minutes of stimulation on each foot, varying between massaging in general or using the somatotopic map stimulating the solar plexus, pain correspondence zone and accessory points related to the diagnosis. In short, the studies showed moderate to good methodological quality according to the PEDro scale. CONCLUSION: Foot reflexology has shown promise for pain relief as an isolated therapy in neuromusculoskeletal cases in hospital and outpatient settings. The hope is that studies of excellent methodological quality can support this statement in the near future.

Immediate effect of foot reflexology in patients with diabetic neuropathy -Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction. Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the most frequent chronic complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). One technique capable of influencing the central and peripheral nervous system is foot reflexology (FR). Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the immediate effect of FR in DN type 2 patients. Method. This was a randomized controlled clinical trial, with 12 participants selected from a list of diabetic patients from the Basic Health Units of the city of Alfenas-MG. The sample consisted of two groups: Control Group (n=5) and Intervention Group (n=7). The instruments used were: surface electromyography for analysis of the lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscles, baropodometry to evaluate the balance from the variables of mean pressure and mass division, and the cardiofrequency meter to analyze the relationship between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and cardiovascular stress. Statistical analysis was used the Shapiro-Wilk test and later the independent t test and Mann Whitney for intergroup comparison. Results. There was only a difference in the EMG of the right lateral gastrocnemius muscle (p=0.04). Conclusion. It was concluded that FR was able to generate response in muscle electrical activity, besides influencing the balance of DN2 patients.

English

English

Práticas integrativas e complementares para alívio ou controle da dor em oncologia

OBJETIVO: Apresentar as principais práticas integrativas e complementares (PICS) empregadas para alívio ou controle da dor em oncologia e identificar a práxis dos enfermeiros na utilização das PICS em pacientes oncológicos. MÉTODO: Revisão integrativa da literatura nas bases de dados LILACS, SciELO, BDENF e MEDLINE durante o período de 2008 a 2018. Utilizada a análise do conteúdo de Bardin. RESULTADOS: Foram selecionados 13 artigos para a realização deste estudo, sendo que 69,2% destes publicados por enfermeiros. Quanto ao ano de publicação, 2018 apresentou maior número de publicações (30,8%) e a base de dados com mais publicações foi a LILACS (53,8%). As principais PICS adotadas para o alívio ou controle da dor foram a acupuntura, acupuntura auricular, fitoterapia, reiki, homeopatia e a reflexologia podal. A práxis dos enfermeiros na utilização das PICS ressalta sua importância na educação em saúde e na sua aplicabilidade. CONCLUSÕES: As PICS, principalmente acupuntura, fitoterapia, reiki, homeopatia e reflexologia podal, representam recursos terapêuticos importantes no alívio da dor oncológica. A práxis dos enfermeiros na utilização desta terapêutica em pacientes oncológicos em hospitais, ainda se constitui um desafio em função da dificuldade de lidar com a hegemonia do modelo biomédico e à deficiência na formação acadêmico-profissional.

Hand Or Foot Reflexology To Relieve Pain Postpartum: A Systematic Review

Background: Many previous studies have discussed hand and foot reflexology which is useful for reducing postpartum pain. However, previous studies presented different results related to foot massage, time and pain changes, so that in this systematic review aimed at supporting non-pharmacological nursing interventions of the hands and feet reflexology associated with postpartum enhancement by looking at these three types namely : duration of massage, time of massage and changes in pain. Objective: This study aims to analyze the duration, time, and results of hand or foot reflexology in reducing maternal postpartum pain. Methods: A systematic review through maternity nursing articles to analyze the effects of hand or foot reflexology in reducing postpartum pain. Search articles using electronic databases namely Sciene Direct, Pubmed, PMC, Google Schoolar and Scopus. Articles that meet the inclusion criteria will be collected and analyzed systematically. Results: In a systematic review it is explained that hand or foot reflexology can reduce postpartum maternal pain but in the duration and timing of the intervention still need consideration from further researchers. Conclusion: Based on the results of the study, hand or foot reflexology is recommended to reduce pain, specifically postpartum pain

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.

A Pilot Study on the Effect of Alternate Nostril Breathing and Foot Reflexology on Intraocular Pressure in Ocular Hypertension.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of alternate nostril breathing (ANB) and foot reflexology (FR) on lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with ocular hypertension (OHTN). This prospective pilot study recruited 11 patients from 2014 to 2016 from Temple opthamology outpatient clinic. Patients had OHTN with ages of 48-78 years. Patients were excluded if they currently performed ANB or FR, were unable to perform the task, had previous eye surgery or laser, were receiving other complementary and alternative medicine for OHTN, or were unable to complete drug washout period. After a 30-day drug washout, patients were randomly assigned to complete either ANB or FR for 5 min. After instruction, patients completed either ANB or FR, and completed the alternate task 2 weeks later. IOP was measured before the task, immediately after the task, and then every 30 min for 2 h. Decrease in IOP compared with baseline IOP was significant for ANB and FR at all time points. Baseline IOP was 25.86 ± 3.19 mmHg for ANB and 25.41 ± 3.54 mmHg for FR (N = 22 eyes). There was only one significant difference between IOP for the right and left eyes for FR at 120 min. Otherwise, there was no difference between eyes for both ANB and FR. There was a significant decrease in IOP at 30 min post task with IOP decrease of 1.98 ± 1.70 mmHg for ANB and 3.59 ± 1.89 mmHg for FR (both p < 0.0001) and at 60 min post task with IOP decrease of 2.39 ± 2.05 mmHg for ANB and 3.86 ± 1.89 mmHg for FR (both p < 0.0001). The decrease in IOP at 90 and 120 min post task was less but remained significant (p < 0.0001). Both FR and ANB had a small but significant IOP lowering effect. These alternative therapies could serve as possible adjunctive treatments for lowering IOP.

Effect of foot reflexology adjunct to paced respiration on vasomotor symptoms during menopause: randomized-controlled trail

Background The most common vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are hot flashes and night sweats, which occur in as many as 68.5% of women as a result of menopause. Symptoms caused by fluctuating levels of estrogen may be alleviated by hormone therapy (HT), but a marked global decline in its use has resulted from concerns about the risks and benefits of HT. Consequently, many women in the postmenopausal period search for alternative natural treatment options to manage menopause. As large numbers of women are choosing not to take HT, it is increasingly important to identify evidence-based foot reflexology with paced respiration that has the potential to reduce vasomotor menopausal symptoms. Aim To examine the combined effect of foot reflexology with paced respiration versus paced respiration on VMS in symptomatic menopausal women. Patients and methods A total of 50 women of menopausal age, 45–55 years were studied; their BMI was less than 30 kg/m2. They were allocated randomly to two groups with equal numbers of participants (A and B). The participants in group A received foot reflexology in addition to paced respiration, whereas the participants in group B received the paced respiration training only. The treatment program was conducted three times per week for 8 weeks. Assessment of all participants in both groups (A and B) was carried out before and after the treatment program throughout by determining blood cortisol level in addition to the use of the menopause rating scale (MRS). Results Both groups (A and B) showed a significant reduction in their blood cortisol and MRS values after the end of the 8 weeks of the training program. The mean values of blood cortisol after treatment were 15.40±1.47, 16.32±1.70 in both groups A and B, respectively. The mean values of total MRS were 8.12±2.19, 12.56±2.96 in both groups A and B, respectively. However, the participants who received foot reflexology plus paced respiration, group A, showed a greater reduction in the blood cortisol value and total MRS (P Conclusion It could be concluded that foot reflexology in addition to paced respiration are more effective than paced respiration only in decreasing blood cortisol level as well as VMS in symptomatic menopausal women.

Effect of Reflexology Foot Massage on Leg Cramps for Patients on Hemodialysis.

Effect of Reflexology Foot Massage on Leg Cramps for Patients on Hemodialysis.

Effects of Foot Reflexology using Essential Oils on Constipation and Physiological Change of Female University Students

Effects of Foot Reflexology using Essential Oils on Constipation and Physiological Change of Female University Students