What Research Shows About Reflexology
Although its roots can be traced back literally thousands of years, reflexology is a healing technique that has seen a significant increase in popularity in today’s world of medicine.
This holistic approach to healing bases its approach on the idea that there exist specific points on the feet, hands and ears that contain a direct link to certain vital organs and seemingly unrelated anatomical structures.
Using this connection, reflexology involves applying direct pressure to the three areas mentioned in an attempt to alleviate a variety of ailments in the corresponding body parts.
Given that this technique has only seen a somewhat recent resurgence in prevalence, many individuals question the overall theory, as well as the technique behind reflexology and its effectiveness.
As with most other topics, especially those entailing medical treatments, the research results regarding reflexology are significantly varied.
With that being said, this article will provide several examples of noted studies that support the use of this technique as a viable option for the relief of various health conditions.
The first study to be discussed is unique in that it was reportedly the first known scientific inquiry on the topic of reflexology. Researchers at the American Academy of Reflexology conducted a randomized controlled trial that included a group of women reporting adverse premenstrual symptoms (Randomized controlled study of premenstrual symptoms treated with ear, hand, and foot reflexology; Oleson T).
According to the results of this study, women receiving official reflexology treatment stated a significant decrease in their overall symptoms when compared to a control group.
In another study conducted at Michigan State University (Dr. Gwen Wyatt), researchers enlisted a group of women diagnosed with breast cancer who were receiving chemotherapy treatment. Subjects were divided into a group that received reflexology and a control group that did not receive this technique.
Several functional measures such as walking, climbing stairs and carrying objects were included to evaluate pre/post differences between these groups. This study concluded that the women who received reflexology treatment reported substantially less difficulty performing these tasks when compared to the group that did not receive these treatments.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition affecting nearly 1.5 million people in the United States alone. This ailment is characterized by the body’s immune system actively attacking multiple joints such as the fingers, wrist and knees.
Individuals suffering from this condition are subject to a wide array of symptoms including a severe deprivation of sleep quality.
In a randomized control study conducted at Gaziantep University, researchers recorded the improvements reported by subjects undergoing 6 weeks of reflexology compared to a control group.
Outcome measures included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index as well as the Visual Analogue Scale. At the conclusion of this study, the group receiving reflexology treatment reported a significant decrease in pain, allowing improved sleep quality (The effects of reflexology on pain and sleep deprivation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized controlled trial; Bakir E, et al).
One of the largest studies supporting the use of reflexology was conducted by University of Ulster (The Physiological and Biochemical Outcomes Associated with a Reflexology Treatment: A Systematic Review; Mc Cullough, et al).
A total of 17 research papers were included in a systematic review. These studies included a large number of health conditions such as cancer, heart failure, dementia, pregnancy and multiple sclerosis.
The conclusion drawn from this particular review was extremely notable. Across every health condition included, when psychological parameters such as stress and anxiety were measured, people receiving reflexology treatment experienced a greater reduction of these symptoms.
Researchers went on to correlate these psychological improvements with a more favorable disease outcome, prognosis and rehabilitation potential.
As we previously discussed, there is research available to support or refute virtually everything under the sun. Reflexology is a topic that many believe has little to no data to reinforce its efficacy. This article serves to challenge this notion and provide just a portion of the data available stating otherwise.