Reflexology research
Does reflexology work? While the benefits have been experienced for thousands of years, there is growing scientific evidence of the impacts this ancient modality. Explore the main studies and trials run by health researchers so far, together with links to the full papers.
Anxiety, depression & stress
Also see Pain relief, Cancer care and Cardiovascular issues.
Effect of foot reflexology intervention on depression, anxiety and sleep quality in adults
Type of study: A meta-analysis and metaregression of randomised controlled trials
Published: 2020
Conclusion: Based on 26 randomised controlled trials involving 2,366 participants, foot reflexology may provide additional nonpharmacotherapy intervention for adults suffering from depression, anxiety, or sleep disturbance. Higher quality trials with a larger group of participants, and with more long-term follow-ups, are recommended for the future.
Foot reflexology on pain and anxiety severity during dressing change in burn patients
Type of study: A randomised controlled trial
Published: 2021
Conclusion: Pain and anxiety was statistically relieved when comparing reflexology (three times every other day in one week) to a control group in burns patients, just prior to the change of dressing. Reductions in pain and anxiety reduced on the fourth, fifth and sixth days after intervention.
Breastfeeding
Investigating the effect of reflexology on the breast milk volume of preterm infants’ mothers
Type of study: A clinical trial
Published: 2018
Conclusion: The results indicate that reflexology is an effective therapy for increasing the volume of milk. As a low-cost and easy procedure, it can be used along with regular lactation training.
The effect of reflexology on lactation in women who had cesarean section
Type of study: A randomised controlled pilot study
Published: 2021
Conclusion: Although this was a small, randomised controlled study, when compared to no intervention, reflexology enabled higher breast feeding scores in the mothers who received reflexology after cesarean section.
Cancer care
Complementary therapies for patients with cancer: Reflexology and relaxation in integrative palliative care
Type of study: A randomised controlled comparative study
Published: 2020
Conclusion: Although the two interventions – relaxation practice and reflexology – both showed a significant decrease in anxiety and depression in patients living with cancer, reflexology was found to be more effective in improving quality of life and had a greater effect on pain management than relaxation alone.
The effect of foot reflexology on fatigue, pain, and sleep quality in lymphoma patients
Type of study: A clinical trial
Published: 2019
Conclusion: When compared with usual cancer care, the results showed that reflexology could reduce fatigue and pain and improve the quality of sleep in patients with lymphoma.
The effect of reflexology on the Pain-Insomnia-Fatigue Disturbance Cluster of breast cancer patients during adjuvant radiation therapy
Published: 2018
Conclulsion: Reflexology may have a positive effect on fatigue, quality of sleep, pain, and quality of life in breast cancer patients during radiation therapy. Reflexology prevented the decline in quality of life and significantly ameliorated the fatigue and quality of sleep of these patients. An encouraging trend was also noted in amelioration of pain levels.
The effects of reflexology on anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients with gynaecological cancers with reference to Watson’s theory of human caring
Type of study: A randomised controlled trial
Published: 2021
Conclusion: The results showed that reflexology is effective in reducing anxiety and depression in women with gynaecological cancers and improves quality of life during chemotherapy. The study suggests that offering reflexology at certain intervals during chemotherapy will increase the duration of its effect.
Cardiovascular issues
Effect of foot reflexology on chest pain and anxiety in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Type of study: A double-blind randomised clinical trial
Published: 2021
Conclusion: Foot reflexology was effective in relieving chest pain and had the most effect in 20 minutes after intervention, compared to both a placebo and a no intervention control group.
The effects of foot reflexology on blood pressure and heart rate in stage-2 hypertensive patients
Type of study: A randomised clinical trial
Published: 2021
Conclusion: When using a specific reflexology technique, heart rate significantly reduced in patients with high blood pressure as compared to the control group. Blood pressure was reduced too, but not to a statistical level.
COPD
The effect of reflexology applied to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on dyspnea and fatigue
Published: 2017
Conclusion: The results showed that reflexology reduced dyspnea (shortness of breath) and fatigue in patients with living with COPD.
Migraines
Effect of applying reflexology massage on nitroglycerin-induced migraine-type headache
Type of study: A placebo-controlled clinical trial
Published: 2018
Conclusion: When comparing reflexology, control and placebo groups, there was a statistically significant reduction in the intensity of migraine in the reflexology group. The study was based on nitrate-induced headaches experienced by inpatients in a coronary care unit.
Effects of feet reflexology versus segmental massage in reducing pain and its intensity, frequency and duration of the attacks in females with migraine
Type of study: A pilot study
Published: 2017
Conclusion: The results showed that reflexology and segmental massage were both effective in all variables using the visual analog scale. Headache features such as intensity, frequency and duration significantly reduced in both groups. The authors noted a significant statistical difference between both groups, summarising that patients with migraine obtain significant health benefits with feet reflexology.
Menopause
The effect of foot reflexology applied to women aged between 40 and 60 on vasomotor complaints and quality of life
Conclusion: Reflexology can be effective in decreasing vasomotor (hot flashes, sweats, and night sweats) problems and increasing quality of life in the menopausal period
The effects of foot reflexology on depression during menopause
Type of study: A randomised controlled clinical trial
Conclusion: Reflexology can be effective for reducing women’s depression during menopause
The effects of reflexology on sleep disorder in menopausal women
Conclusion: Reflexology is an effective therapy for sleep disorders and hot flushes in menopause
Multiple sclerosis
Reflexology treatment relieves symptoms of multiple sclerosis
Type of study: A randomised controlled study
Conclusion: Specific reflexology treatment was of benefit in alleviating motor; sensory and urinary symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients.
Comparing the effects of reflexology and relaxation on fatigue in women with multiple sclerosis
Conclusion: Reflexology is effective and can be recommended.
A comparison of the effects of reflexology and relaxation on the psychological symptoms in women with multiple sclerosis
Conclusion: Reflexology is effective in relieving anxiety, stress and depression
Pain relief
Also see Migraines and Premenstrual syndrome.
Reflexology may be as effective as painkillers
The effect of reflexology on low back pain in operating room nurses
Parkinson’s disease
Can reflexology maintain or improve the well-being of people with Parkinson’s Disease?
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Comparing the effects of reflexology methods and Ibuprofen administration on dysmenorrhea
Published: 2010
Conclusion: Reflexology was superior to Ibuprofen on reducing painful periods in this study. Remarkably, the effects of the treatments even continued into the participants' third cycle well after the sessions had been discontinued. The study concluded that as a non-invasive, easy and cheap technique, reflexology can replace anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) so women can avoid their adverse side effects.
Effects of reflexology on premenstrual syndrome
Type of study: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Published: 2019
Conclusion: Based on a joint analysis of several studies, reflexology relieves both somatic (physical) and psychological (emotional) symptoms of PMS. The study's results revealed that longer treatment sessions of reflexology had a greater effect.
Pregnancy
The effectiveness of using foot reflexology to improve quality of sleep amongst post partum women
Type of study: A randomised controlled trial
Conclusion: An intervention involving foot reflexology in the postnatal period significantly improved the quality of sleep.
Investigating the effects of beta-endorphin, cortisol and pregnancy related stress
Type of study: A randomised controlled trial
Conclusion: Reflexology during pregnancy may help reduce low back and/or pelvic girdle pain and associated stress.
The effects of foot reflexology on the anxiety levels of women in labour
Conclusion: Foot reflexology was found to have a positive effect in lowering the total anxiety scores of the pregnant women.
Rheumatoid arthritis
The effects of reflexology on pain and sleep deprivation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Type of study: A randomised controlled trial
Published: 2018
Conclusion: Foot reflexology is a non-pharmacological nursing intervention that may reduce the pain and sleep deprivation symptoms of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The group receiving reflexology had reduced average pain levels after six weeks of treatments.
The role of non-pharmacological interventions in the management of rheumatoid-arthritis-related fatigue
Conclusion: A study implies that personal approaches to fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients is warranted and that reflexology appears promising in this area.
Also see Pain relief, Cancer care and Cardiovascular issues.
Effect of foot reflexology intervention on depression, anxiety and sleep quality in adults
Type of study: A meta-analysis and metaregression of randomised controlled trials
Published: 2020
Conclusion: Based on 26 randomised controlled trials involving 2,366 participants, foot reflexology may provide additional nonpharmacotherapy intervention for adults suffering from depression, anxiety, or sleep disturbance. Higher quality trials with a larger group of participants, and with more long-term follow-ups, are recommended for the future.
Foot reflexology on pain and anxiety severity during dressing change in burn patients
Type of study: A randomised controlled trial
Published: 2021
Conclusion: Pain and anxiety was statistically relieved when comparing reflexology (three times every other day in one week) to a control group in burns patients, just prior to the change of dressing. Reductions in pain and anxiety reduced on the fourth, fifth and sixth days after intervention.
Breastfeeding
Investigating the effect of reflexology on the breast milk volume of preterm infants’ mothers
Type of study: A clinical trial
Published: 2018
Conclusion: The results indicate that reflexology is an effective therapy for increasing the volume of milk. As a low-cost and easy procedure, it can be used along with regular lactation training.
The effect of reflexology on lactation in women who had cesarean section
Type of study: A randomised controlled pilot study
Published: 2021
Conclusion: Although this was a small, randomised controlled study, when compared to no intervention, reflexology enabled higher breast feeding scores in the mothers who received reflexology after cesarean section.
Cancer care
Complementary therapies for patients with cancer: Reflexology and relaxation in integrative palliative care
Type of study: A randomised controlled comparative study
Published: 2020
Conclusion: Although the two interventions – relaxation practice and reflexology – both showed a significant decrease in anxiety and depression in patients living with cancer, reflexology was found to be more effective in improving quality of life and had a greater effect on pain management than relaxation alone.
The effect of foot reflexology on fatigue, pain, and sleep quality in lymphoma patients
Type of study: A clinical trial
Published: 2019
Conclusion: When compared with usual cancer care, the results showed that reflexology could reduce fatigue and pain and improve the quality of sleep in patients with lymphoma.
The effect of reflexology on the Pain-Insomnia-Fatigue Disturbance Cluster of breast cancer patients during adjuvant radiation therapy
Published: 2018
Conclulsion: Reflexology may have a positive effect on fatigue, quality of sleep, pain, and quality of life in breast cancer patients during radiation therapy. Reflexology prevented the decline in quality of life and significantly ameliorated the fatigue and quality of sleep of these patients. An encouraging trend was also noted in amelioration of pain levels.
The effects of reflexology on anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients with gynaecological cancers with reference to Watson’s theory of human caring
Type of study: A randomised controlled trial
Published: 2021
Conclusion: The results showed that reflexology is effective in reducing anxiety and depression in women with gynaecological cancers and improves quality of life during chemotherapy. The study suggests that offering reflexology at certain intervals during chemotherapy will increase the duration of its effect.
Cardiovascular issues
Effect of foot reflexology on chest pain and anxiety in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Type of study: A double-blind randomised clinical trial
Published: 2021
Conclusion: Foot reflexology was effective in relieving chest pain and had the most effect in 20 minutes after intervention, compared to both a placebo and a no intervention control group.
The effects of foot reflexology on blood pressure and heart rate in stage-2 hypertensive patients
Type of study: A randomised clinical trial
Published: 2021
Conclusion: When using a specific reflexology technique, heart rate significantly reduced in patients with high blood pressure as compared to the control group. Blood pressure was reduced too, but not to a statistical level.
COPD
The effect of reflexology applied to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on dyspnea and fatigue
Published: 2017
Conclusion: The results showed that reflexology reduced dyspnea (shortness of breath) and fatigue in patients with living with COPD.
Migraines
Effect of applying reflexology massage on nitroglycerin-induced migraine-type headache
Type of study: A placebo-controlled clinical trial
Published: 2018
Conclusion: When comparing reflexology, control and placebo groups, there was a statistically significant reduction in the intensity of migraine in the reflexology group. The study was based on nitrate-induced headaches experienced by inpatients in a coronary care unit.
Effects of feet reflexology versus segmental massage in reducing pain and its intensity, frequency and duration of the attacks in females with migraine
Type of study: A pilot study
Published: 2017
Conclusion: The results showed that reflexology and segmental massage were both effective in all variables using the visual analog scale. Headache features such as intensity, frequency and duration significantly reduced in both groups. The authors noted a significant statistical difference between both groups, summarising that patients with migraine obtain significant health benefits with feet reflexology.
Menopause
The effect of foot reflexology applied to women aged between 40 and 60 on vasomotor complaints and quality of life
Conclusion: Reflexology can be effective in decreasing vasomotor (hot flashes, sweats, and night sweats) problems and increasing quality of life in the menopausal period
The effects of foot reflexology on depression during menopause
Type of study: A randomised controlled clinical trial
Conclusion: Reflexology can be effective for reducing women’s depression during menopause
The effects of reflexology on sleep disorder in menopausal women
Conclusion: Reflexology is an effective therapy for sleep disorders and hot flushes in menopause
Multiple sclerosis
Reflexology treatment relieves symptoms of multiple sclerosis
Type of study: A randomised controlled study
Conclusion: Specific reflexology treatment was of benefit in alleviating motor; sensory and urinary symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients.
Comparing the effects of reflexology and relaxation on fatigue in women with multiple sclerosis
Conclusion: Reflexology is effective and can be recommended.
A comparison of the effects of reflexology and relaxation on the psychological symptoms in women with multiple sclerosis
Conclusion: Reflexology is effective in relieving anxiety, stress and depression
Pain relief
Also see Migraines and Premenstrual syndrome.
Reflexology may be as effective as painkillers
The effect of reflexology on low back pain in operating room nurses
Parkinson’s disease
Can reflexology maintain or improve the well-being of people with Parkinson’s Disease?
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Comparing the effects of reflexology methods and Ibuprofen administration on dysmenorrhea
Published: 2010
Conclusion: Reflexology was superior to Ibuprofen on reducing painful periods in this study. Remarkably, the effects of the treatments even continued into the participants' third cycle well after the sessions had been discontinued. The study concluded that as a non-invasive, easy and cheap technique, reflexology can replace anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) so women can avoid their adverse side effects.
Effects of reflexology on premenstrual syndrome
Type of study: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Published: 2019
Conclusion: Based on a joint analysis of several studies, reflexology relieves both somatic (physical) and psychological (emotional) symptoms of PMS. The study's results revealed that longer treatment sessions of reflexology had a greater effect.
Pregnancy
The effectiveness of using foot reflexology to improve quality of sleep amongst post partum women
Type of study: A randomised controlled trial
Conclusion: An intervention involving foot reflexology in the postnatal period significantly improved the quality of sleep.
Investigating the effects of beta-endorphin, cortisol and pregnancy related stress
Type of study: A randomised controlled trial
Conclusion: Reflexology during pregnancy may help reduce low back and/or pelvic girdle pain and associated stress.
The effects of foot reflexology on the anxiety levels of women in labour
Conclusion: Foot reflexology was found to have a positive effect in lowering the total anxiety scores of the pregnant women.
Rheumatoid arthritis
The effects of reflexology on pain and sleep deprivation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Type of study: A randomised controlled trial
Published: 2018
Conclusion: Foot reflexology is a non-pharmacological nursing intervention that may reduce the pain and sleep deprivation symptoms of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The group receiving reflexology had reduced average pain levels after six weeks of treatments.
The role of non-pharmacological interventions in the management of rheumatoid-arthritis-related fatigue
Conclusion: A study implies that personal approaches to fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients is warranted and that reflexology appears promising in this area.