Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Reflexology in Primary Care
What is the evidence?
Patricia H. Cox, DNP, MPH, FNP‐BC
Assistant Professor
I have no conflict of interest to
disclose
Objectives
• Define reflexology and history
• Identify clinical areas where reflexology is
being used
• Discuss the use, benefits and evidence of
reflexology
• Explore the use of self‐reflexology as a self
care measure
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What is reflexology?
Whoa….what does that all
mean?
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Reflexology
• The entire body is reflected on the feet, hands
and ears.
• Non‐invasive complementary discipline
employing alternating pressure on body maps
on the feet, hands and ears.
• Reduces stress which causes physiological
changes in the body.
• Provides relaxation which may help the body
balance.
Foot Reflexology
Hand Reflexology
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Brief History
Brief History
• Believed to have started in Egypt, Tibet, China
and/or with Native American Indians.
• There is no proof but art and sculptures of
indigenous cultures do indicate working on the
feet.
• The first use of the word ‘reflex’ with reference to
motor reactions was by the German physiologist
Johann August Unzer in 1771.
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Brief History
• Fitzgerald, the father of ‘zone therapy’, divided
the body into ten zones—five on each side of the
sagittal plane.
• Doctors and dentists used as a form of pain relief
or analgesia.
• Riley, began reflexology as known today, reflexes
found on feet and hands follow the anatomy of
the body.
• In 1930 Eunice Ingham contributed that
alternating pressure stimulated healing.
What is reflexology used for?
• Anxiety
• Asthma
• Cancer treatment
• Cardiovascular issues
• Diabetes
• Headaches
• Kidney function
• PMS
• Sinusitis
• Palliative care & Hospice
What are the benefits of reflexology?
• It promotes stress reduction throughout
the entire body, bringing about relaxation
• It naturally promotes balance and
normalizations of the body through the
relaxation process
• It stimulates circulation and the delivery
of oxygen and nutrients to the cells.
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What is the evidence?
Kunz & Kunz (2008) summarized 168 research studies and abstracts from
journals and meetings from around the world. Many in peer‐reviewed
journals in China and Korea. All had information about the frequency and
duration of the reflexology application.
They concluded that reflexology may:
• Impact specific organs (e.g., fMRI readings demonstrated an increase in
blood flow to kidneys and to the intestines)
• Be associated with an amelioration of symptoms (e.g., positive changes
were noted in kidney functioning with kidney dialysis patients)
• Create a relaxation effect (e.g., EEGs measure alpha and theta waves,
blood pressure was decreased, and anxiety was lowered)
• Aid in pain reduction (27 studies demonstrated a positive outcome for
reduction in pain; e.g., AIDS, chest pain, peripheral neuropathy of diabetes
mellitus, kidney stones, and osteoarthritis)
What is the evidence?
Other systematic reviews are cautious:
• reflexology may have a positive effect on type 2
diabetes
• may exert a beneficial effect of lowering blood
pressure and incontinence(Song, 2015)
• may have a positive impact on blood pressure
(McCullough, 2014)
• may be effective for tingling in MS(Yadav, 2015).
These reviews note that the quality of research studies on
reflexology is generally low.
What is the evidence?
Ernst, Posadzki & Lee (2011) conducted a
systematic review. They evaluated the effectiveness
of reflexology in the treatment of human
conditions.
Twenty‐three RCTs met their inclusion criteria:
• 8 suggested that reflexology had beneficial effects
• 14 showed no effectiveness
• one was equivocal.
The authors note that the quality of the studies was
often poor.
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The Bottom Line
Studies in the U.S. and around the world indicate
possible benefits of reflexology for various
conditions:
• as an intervention to reduce pain
• enhance relaxation
• reduce psychological symptoms, such as anxiety
and depression.
However, reviewers of the research have noted that
the quality of reflexology studies is mixed and more
high‐quality research is needed.
Is reflexology safe?
Reflexology is a safe healing practice however there are a few
contraindications:
• foot fractures, unhealed wounds, or active gout in the foot.
• osteoarthritis of the foot or ankle
• vascular disease of the legs or feet
• current thrombosis or embolism
• women in early pregnancy (the first 6 weeks). Caution should
be exercised during pregnancy because of reports that
stimulation may cause contractions.
• allow at least 48 hours between touch therapy sessions to
avoid an overload on your system.
What are the guiding principles in
reflexology?
• Reflexologists do not heal clients; the body
repairs itself.
• Reflexology is offered to help bring the person
back into balance so that the body can nurture
and repair itself.
• A relaxed body can induce calm emotions, a
serene mind, and an integrated spirit.
• The body responds to touch, which can
facilitate healing on all levels.
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Self‐reflexology as self‐care
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIiO7WOw
rgk
Finally
"If you're feeling out of kilter. Don't
know why or what about. Let your feet
reveal the answer.
Find the sore spot work it out."
Eunice D. Ingham
The Law & Reflexology
Oregon
• 851‐050‐0005 Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice
(8) The nurse practitioner will only provide health care
services within the nurse practitioner's scope of practice
for which he/she is educationally prepared and for which
competency has been established and maintained.
Educational preparation includes academic coursework,
workshops or seminars, provided both theory and clinical
experience are included.
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The Law & Reflexology
Oregon
• Board of Massage Therapists‐“Effective January 1,
2008, there has been a specific exemption for the
practice of Reflexology in Oregon. The exemptions is
as follows per ORS 687.031 (1)(i): Practitioners of
reflexology who do not claim expressly or implicitly to
be massage therapists and who limit their work to the
practice of reflexology through the application of
pressure with the thumbs to reflex points on the feet,
hands and ears for the purpose of bringing the body
into balance, thereby promoting the well‐being of
clients”.
References
Dalal, K., Maran, V. B., Pandey, R.M. & Tripathi, M. (2014). Determination of Efficacy of reflexology in Managing patients with
diabetic neuropathy: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Evidenced‐based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 1‐11.
Ear map [Photograph]. Retrieved from
http://reflexology‐map.com/wp‐content/uploads/2013/03/REFLEXOLOGY‐ear.jpg
Egyptian picture [Photograph]. Retrieved from
http://static.wixstatic.com/media/be5eed_2f81c79d20e34f57bbc8853d337a5fdb.gif_srz_498_221_85_22_0.50_1.20_0.00
_gif_srz
Ernst, E., Posadzki, P., Lee, M.S. (Feb 2011). Reflexology: an update of a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Maturitas.
68 (2): 116–20.
Feet [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/05/30/article‐1189708‐051F57BC000005DC‐
33_468x417.jpg
Foot map [Photograph]. Retrieved fromhttp://enjoyrelaxingmoments.abmp.com/footreflexology.jpg
http://clairemariemiller.com/product/85x11‐foot‐chart
Guven, S.D. & Karatas, N. (2013). The effect of foot reflexology applied to patients with hypertension on blood pressure,
cholesterol levels and quality of life. Turkish Journal of Research & Development in Nursing, 15 (3): 56‐67
Hand map [Photograph]. Retrieved from
http://reflexology‐map.com/wp‐content/uploads/2013/03/hands.jpg
Hodgson H. (2000). Does reflexology impact on cancer patients’ quality of life? Nursing Standard, 14(31): 33‐38.
Hodgson, N.A., Andersen, S. (2008). The clinical efficacy of reflexology in nursing home residents with dementia. The
Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 14(3): 269‐275.
Hughes, C.M., McCullough, C.A., Bradbury, I., Boyde, C., Hume, D., Yuan, J., Quinn, F., & McDonough, S.M. (2009).
Acupuncture and reflexology for insomnia: a feasibility study. Acupuncture in Medicine, 27 (4): 163‐168.
Jones, J., Thomson, P., Lauder, W., & Leslie, S.J. (2013). A proposed reductionist solution to address the methodological challenges
of inconsistent reflexology maps and poor experimental controls in reflexology research: a discussion paper. The Journal of
Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 19(3): 232‐234.
References
Jones, J., Thomson, P., Irvine, K. & Leslie, S.J. (2013). Is there a specific hemodynamic effect in reflexology? A systematic
review of randomized controlled trials. The Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 19 (4): 319‐328.
Kunz, B. & Kunz, K. (2008). Evidence‐Based Reflexology for Health Professionals and Researchers: The Reflexology Research Series.
Lakasing, E. & Lawrence, D. (2010). When to use reflexology. Primary Health Care, 20 (1): 16‐19.
McCullough, J.E.M., Liddle, S.D., Sinclair, M., Close, C. & Hughes, C.M. (2014). The physiological and biochemical outcomes
associated with a reflexology treatment: a systematic review. Evidenced‐based Complementary & Alternative
Medicine, 1‐ 16.
Ozdemir, G., Ovayolu, N. & Ovayolu, O. (2013). The effect of reflexology applied on haemodialysis patients with fatigue, pain
and cramps. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 19: 265‐273.
Song, H.J., Choi, S.M., Seo, H., Lee, H., Son, H., & Lee, S. (2015). Self‐administered reflexology for the management of chronic
health conditions: a systematic review. The Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 21 (2): 69‐76.
Wang, M., Tsai, P., Lee, P., Chang, W. & Yang, C. (2008). The efficacy of reflexology: systematic review. Journal of
Advanced Nursing, 62 (5): 512‐520.
Wyatt, G., Sikorskii, A., Rahbar, M.H., Victorson, D. & You, M. (2012). Health‐related quality of life outcomes: a
reflexology trial with patients with advanced‐stage breast cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 39 (6): 568‐577.
Yadav , V., Bever , C., Bowen, J., Bowling , A., Weinstock‐Guttman ,B., Cameron , M., Bourdette , D., Gronseth ,G.S.,
Narayanaswami , P. (2014). Summary of evidence‐based guideline: complementary and alternative medicine in
multiple sclerosis: report of the guideline development subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology.
Neurology. 82(12):1083‐92.
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