Reflexology Therapy Research Articles

A Multimodal Interaction Design Guidelines for VR Foot Reflexology Therapy Application

The proliferation of multimodal interaction research have presented numerous advantages which include enhancement of realism, increased efficiency in user task performance and the achievement of an interactivity that is relatively identical to the conventional human to human interactions. Haptic, visual, and aural interactions have been widely utilized and applied in various domains ranging from military and scientific visualization realms into more multidisciplinary areas, such as art and culture, education, archeology, and complementary medicine. In Virtual reality stress therapy application particularly in the proliferation towards the virtualization and simulation of the traditional foot reflexology therapy, little is understood on the haptic, visual and aural interactive nature of the therapy and to what extent they contribute in the patients' relaxation and stress relief, which hinders the system developers from obtaining the appropriate system design requirements for foot reflexology virtual stress therapy applications. This paper presents an exploratory study that examines from both the patients' and practitioners' perspective, the haptic, visual and aural interactive nature in foot reflexology domain since the practices promote relaxation and stress relief. The study explored 2 traditional foot reflexology sessions; audio recorded semi-structured interview was used to collect data from the participant's while the session was going on for analysis. The study findings presented the haptic, visual and aural interactive nature involved from the patients' and practitioners' perspective, and a higher level design requirements for the haptic, aural, visual and general interactivity extracted from the study findings as well as from literature. Implications for future research are also discussed.

Evaluation of the Effect of Reflexology on Pain Control and Analgesic Consumption After Appendectomy

Appendicitis is the most common cause of severe abdominal pain in the world, and the associated postsurgical pain, as occurs with other surgical procedures, is one of the most common problems. Today, there is a growing tendency toward nondrug methods and alternative medicine to reduce the adverse effects of drugs. Reflexology involves applying pressure on certain areas of the palms, feet, and ears in order to reduce stress and pain in certain areas of the body. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of reflexology massage on pain relief after appendectomy. This clinical trial was conducted at the surgical emergency unit of Imam Reza Hospital of Mashhad, Iran, in 2013. Pain intensity and analgesic consumption were compared between 105 patients before and immediately, 1 hour, 6 hours, and 24 hours after the intervention in three groups of intervention, control, and placebo. Patients in all three groups received analgesics, as required. The experimental group received pressure on a defined area of the right foot for about 10 minutes and the Shen Men point of the ear for 1 minute. This pressure in the placebo group was applied on the left foot and the left earlobe. Patients in the control group received routine care only. The results were evaluated at a 95% confidence level, and data were analyzed using SPSS software version 12 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). At the beginning of the study, the mean pain intensity in different groups according to analysis of variance was not significantly different (p = 0.439); however, there was a notable difference in pain intensity between the intervention and other groups after reflexology therapy. In addition, methadone consumption was significantly lower in the reflexology group than in the other two groups (p ≤ 0.001). Reflexology is effective for reducing pain after appendectomy surgery.

Reflexology

To investigate whether reflexology has an effect on the physiological signs of anxiety and level of sedation in patients receiving mechanically ventilated support, a single blinded, randomized controlled design with repeated measures was used in the intensive care unit of a university hospital in Turkey. Patients (n = 60) aged between 18 and 70 years and were hospitalized in the intensive care unit and receiving mechanically ventilated support. Participants were randomized to a control group or an intervention group. The latter received 30 minutes of reflexology therapy on their feet, hands, and ears for 5 days. Subjects had vital signs taken immediately before the intervention and at the 10th, 20th, and 30th minutes of the intervention. In the collection of the data, "American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Sedation Assessment Scale" was used. The reflexology therapy group had a significantly lower heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate than the control group. A statistically significant difference was found between the averages of the scores that the patients included in the experimental and control groups received from the agitation, anxiety, sleep, and patient-ventilator synchrony subscales of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Sedation Assessment Scale. Reflexology can serve as an effective method of decreasing the physiological signs of anxiety and the required level of sedation in patients receiving mechanically ventilated support. Nurses who have appropriate training and certification may include reflexology in routine care to reduce the physiological signs of anxiety of patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Determination of Efficacy of Reflexology in Managing Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background. The restricted usage of existing pharmacological methods which do not seem to provide the treatment of diabetic neuropathy may lead to exploring the efficacy of a complementary therapy. In this context, this paper was devoted to evaluate the efficacy of foot reflexology. This health science works on the hypothesis that the dysfunctional states of body parts could be identified by observing certain skin features and be rectified by stimulating certain specific areas mapped on feet. Method. Subjects (N = 58) with diagnosed diabetic neuropathy were randomly distributed into reflexology and control groups in which both group patients were treated with ongoing pharmacological drugs. Reflexology group patients were additionally treated holistically with the hypothesis that this therapy would bring homeostasis among body organ functions. This was a caregiver-based study with a follow-up period of 6 months. The outcome measures were pain reduction, glycemic control, nerve conductivity, and thermal and vibration sensitivities. The skin features leading to the detection of the abnormal functional states of body parts were also recorded and analyzed. Results. Reflexology group showed more improvements in all outcome measures than those of control subjects with statistical significance. Conclusion. This study exhibited the efficient utility of reflexology therapy integrated with conventional medicines in managing diabetic neuropathy.

Role of Reflexology and Antiepileptic Drugs in Managing Intractable Epilepsy - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: This report is based on the results of a randomized parallel controlled trial conducted to determine the efficacy of reflexology therapy in managing intractable epilepsy. Methods: Subjects who failed epilepsy surgery or were not candidates for epilepsy surgery or were non-responders of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) took part in this study. The trial was completed by 77 subjects randomly assigned to 2 arms: control (AEDs) and reflexology (AEDs + reflexology therapy). The hypothesis was that hand reflexology therapy could produce results similar to those of vagus nerve stimulation, and foot reflexology therapy could maintain homeostasis in the functional status of individual body parts. Reflexology therapy was applied by family members. The follow-up period was 1.5 years. Quality of life in epilepsy patients was assessed with the QOLIE-31 instrument. Results: In the reflexology group, the median baseline seizure frequency decreased from 9.5 (range 2-120) to 2 (range 0-110) with statistical significance (p < 0.001). In the control arm, the decrease was less than 25% with a baseline value of 16 (range 2-150). The pretherapy QOLIE-31 scores in the control group and the reflexology group were 41.05 ± 7 and 43.6 ± 8, respectively. Posttherapy data were 49.07 ± 6 and 65.4 ± 9, respectively (p < 0.002). The reflexology method allowed detection of knee pain in 85% of the reflexology group patients (p < 0.001), and 85.3% of patients derived 81% relief from it (p < 0.001). 4 reflexology group patients reported nausea/vomiting (n = 1), change in voice (n = 2), and hoarseness (n = 1). Conclusion: Reflexology therapy together with AEDs may help reducing seizure frequency and improving quality of life in individuals with epilepsy.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer Survivorship

Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer Survivorship

Effect of foot reflexology and music therapy on cancer pain

Objective To observe the effect and the possible mechanism of foot reflexology and music therapy on cancer pain intervention.Methods 90 Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal therapy,palma reflexology massage; palma reflexology massage plus music therapy,30 patients in each group.Evaluated pain score by changhai pain rating scale,and tested patients' peripheral plasma concentration of β-endorphin、prostaglandin E2 and epinephrine by ELISA.Results Patients' pain score reduced to varying degrees,but no statistical differences were found among three groups with regard to pain score and serum concentration of β-endorphin,prostaglandin E2 and epinephrine 3 days post intervention (P ＞ 0.05 ).the pain score was (4.21 ± 0.67 ),(2.12 ± 1.39 ) and ( 1.88 ± 0.77) respectively in normal therapy group,palma reflexology massage group and palma reflexology massage plus music therapy group ( F =21.99,P ＜ 0.05 ),Statistical differences were found between 3 days and 6 days post intervention among internal palma reflexology massage and palma reflexology massage plus music therapy separately with regard to serum concentration of prostaglandin E2 and epinephrine ( P ＜ 0.05 ),whereas no statistical differences were found be tween the two groups at the two time points (P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions Palma reflexology massage can alleviate cancer pain; its mechanism may be due to its psychological effects,stimulating the modulation effect of meridians and collaterals,modifying pain-related cytokines secretion. Key words: Cancer pain; Palma reflexology massage; Music therapy; Mechanism

A Pilot Study Exploring the Effects of Reflexology on Cold Intolerance

Cold intolerance is an inability to tolerate cold temperatures and is accompanied by symptoms including headache, shoulder discomfort, dizziness and palpitations. The current study was performed to examine whether reflexology therapy affected cold intolerance in human subjects and whether the treatment was systemically effective. Ten female volunteer examinees with subjective feelings of cold were examined. After a 5-minute foot bath, 10 minutes of reflexology therapy was performed on their left foot. Skin temperature and blood flow were estimated before and after treatment, together with an interview concerning their feelings of cold and daily habits. In addition, how the recovery rate was affected by the application of a chilled-water load was also estimated. Along with significant increases in skin temperature and blood flow compared with pre-treatment at the bilateral points of KI-1, LR-3, and BL-60, a faster recovery after the application of the chilled-water load was also seen in the lower limbs on both sides. From these results, we conclude that reflexology has systemic effects and is an alternative method for treating cold intolerance.

Randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of using foot reflexology to improve quality of sleep amongst Taiwanese postpartum women

Objective to examine the effectiveness of using foot reflexology to improve sleep quality in postpartum women. Design and setting randomised controlled trial, conducted at two postpartum centres in northern Taiwan. Participants 65 postpartum women reporting poor quality of sleep were recruited from July 2007 to December 2007. Interventions participants were assigned randomly to either an intervention or a control group. Participants in both groups received the same care except for reflexology therapy. The intervention group received a single 30-minute foot reflexology session at the same time each evening for five consecutive days. Sessions were administered by a certified nurse reflexologist. Measures and findings the outcome measure was the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and this was performed at baseline and post test. Mean PQSI scores for both groups declined over time between baseline and post test. Using a generalised estimation equation to control several confounding variables, the changes in mean PSQI were found to be significantly lower in the intervention group ( β=−2.24, standard error=0.38, p<0.001) than in the control group. Conclusion an intervention involving foot reflexology in the postnatal period significantly improved the quality of sleep. Implications for practice midwives should evaluate maternal sleep quality and design early intervention programmes to improve quality of sleep in order to increase maternal biopsychosocial well-being. Midwives interested in complementary therapies should be encouraged to obtain training in reflexology and to apply it in clinical settings if it is allowed.

The Cavendish Centre for integrated cancer care: assessment of patients' needs and responses

The use of complementary therapies in combination with conventional medicine is increasing. In cancer care, as at the Cavendish Centre for Cancer Care in Sheffield, the range of therapies offered can include aromatherapy, massage, reflexology, shiatsu, acupuncture, homeopathy, counselling, visualization, hypnotherapy, relaxation, healing and art therapy. Before offering any therapy careful assessment of patients' needs is important as patients seeking complementary therapies may present with unrealistic hopes and expectations of benefit. There are wide variations in provision of services offering complementary cancer care throughout the United Kingdom but few offer a comprehensive assessment which is used as a baseline for both planning treatment and evaluating its outcome and which is conducted by a trained and objective practitioner who has no investment in any specific therapy. We describe the model of care developed at the Cavendish Centre with particular emphasis on the assessment process. Our model of assessment provides an opportunity for patients to tell their story, make sense of the illness experience, construct meaning from it and set realistic expectations for the chosen intervention. It also offers patients involvement and choice in decisions about their care. In addition we present evaluative data from a case series of 157 patients, 138 of whom (88%) reported improvement in their main concern on MYMOP (Measure Your Medical Outcome Profile).

Randomized controlled study of premenstrual symptoms treated with ear, hand and foot reflexology: Oleson T, Flocco W Obstetrics & Gynecology 1993; 82(6): 906–911

To determine whether reflexology therapy--the application of manual pressure to reflex points on the ears, hands, and feet that somatotopically correspond to specific areas of the body--can significantly reduce premenstrual symptoms compared to placebo treatment.Thirty-five women who complained of previous distress with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were randomly assigned to be treated by ear, hand, and foot reflexology or to receive placebo reflexology. All subjects completed a daily diary, which monitored 38 premenstrual symptoms on a four-point scale. Somatic and psychological indicators of premenstrual distress were recorded each day for 2 months before treatment, for 2 months during reflexology, and for 2 months afterward. The reflexology sessions for both groups were provided by a trained reflexology therapist once a week for 8 weeks, and lasted 30 minutes each.Analysis of variance for repeated measures demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in premenstrual symptoms for the women given true reflexology treatment than for the women in the placebo group.These clinical findings support the use of ear, hand, and foot reflexology for the treatment of PMS.

The pastorate and New Age healing

Many healing techniques are emerging among New Age groups: meditation, visualization, laying on of hands, acupressure, herbalism, reflexology, Rolfing, diet control and vitamin therapy, chiropractic, psychic and spiritual healing, electro-magnetic healing, and the use of sound, light, and color. These techniques are discussed for the modern pastor's information. Further, two questions are raised: need these practices pose a religious or theological conflict, and what attitude might he take toward these practices?