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Benefits of Reflexology

Reflexology can be effective for alleviating pain from certain conditions, improving sleep, and decreasing anxiety, stress, and depression. 

Specifically, reflexology has been shown to decrease both physical and psychological symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS).1 It also alleviated pain and improved quality of life in the short term for people with palliative care needs.2

People with sleeping disorders were also postively impacted by reflexology, which alleviated fatigue,3 increased sleep efficiency and effective rate, and decreased sleep onset latency.4

For pregnant women, reflexology had a significant effect on labour pain, labour duration, and anxiety during labour (but not before C-section).5

Refexology also decreased anxiety among people undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures6 and those with multiple sclerosis (MS). Those with MS also experienced decreased stress and improvement in depression and quality of life.7

Research has also shown that reflexology can be helpful in relieving functional constipation.8

Fact Sheet

Benefits of Reflexology (PDF)

References

  1. Hasanpour, M. M. Mohammadi, and H. Shareinia, "Effects of reflexology on premenstrual syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis," BioPsychoSocial Medicine (2019), 13, 25, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s13030-019-0165-0.
  2. Candy, M. Armstrong, K. Flemming, N. Kupeli, P. Stone, V. Vickerstaff, and S. Wilkinson, "The effectiveness of aromatherapy, massage and reflexology in people with palliative care needs: A systematic review," Palliative Medicine (2020), 34(2), 179–194, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/0269216319884198.
  3. Lee, M. Han, Y. Chung, J. Kim, and J. Choi, "Effects of foot reflexology on fatigue, sleep and pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis," Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing (2011), 41(6), 821–833, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.6.821.
  4. F. Yeung, K. F. Chung, M. M. Poon, F. Y. Ho, S. P. Zhang, Z. J. Zhang, E. T. Ziea, and V. T. Wong, "Acupressure, reflexology, and auricular acupressure for insomnia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials," Sleep Medicine (2012), 13(8), 971–984, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2012.06.003.
  5. Liang, S. Wu, K. Li, H. Zhang, F. Yang, X. Wang, and G. Yang, "The effects of reflexology on symptoms in pregnancy: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials," Heliyon (2023), 9(8), e18442, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18442.
  6. Chandrababu, E. L. Rathinasamy, C. Suresh, and J. Ramesh, "Effectiveness of reflexology on anxiety of patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials," Journal of Advanced Nursing (2019), 75(1), 43–53, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/jan.13822.
  7. Ma, Z. Yuan, B. Qian, Y. Guan, and B. Wang, "Systematic review and meta-analysis of reflexology for people with multiple sclerosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Medicine (2023), 102(5), e32661, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000032661.
  8. Yaqi, J. Nan, C. Ying, Z. Xiaojun, Z. Lijuan, W. Yulu, W. Siqi, C. Shixiang, and Z. Yue, "Foot reflexology in the management of functional constipation: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice (2020), 40, 101198, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101198.