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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

Reflexology Safety

Although research on reflexology safety is limited, most studies report that when performed by a trained professional, it is generally a safe practice with very few reports of negative effects.9

The few mild side effects reported include foot discomfort, nausea, and pain at the stimulated points on the hands and feet.10

More research is needed to understand when reflexology might not be an appropriate therapy or when adjustments should be made for certain individuals.

Fact Sheets

Benefits of Reflexology (PDF)
Reflexology Safety (PDF)

References

  1. M. Hasanpour, M. M. Mohammadi, and H. Shareinia, "Effects of reflexology on premenstrual syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis," BioPsychoSocial Medicine 13, no. 25 (2019), https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s13030-019-0165-0.
  2. B. Candy et al., "The effectiveness of aromatherapy, massage and reflexology in people with palliative care needs: A systematic review," Palliative Medicine 34, no. 2 (2020): 179–194, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/0269216319884198.
  3. J. 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 41, no. 6 (2011): 821–833, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.6.821.
  4. F. Yeung et al., "Acupressure, reflexology, and auricular acupressure for insomnia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials," Sleep Medicine 13, no. 8 (2012): 971–984, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2012.06.003.
  5. X. Liang et al., "The effects of reflexology on symptoms in pregnancy: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials," Heliyon 9, no. 8 (2023): e18442, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18442.
  6. R. 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 75, no. 1 (2019): 43–53, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/jan.13822.
  7. X. 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 102, no. 5 (2023): e32661, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000032661.
  8. H. Yaqi et al. , "Foot reflexology in the management of functional constipation: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 40 (August 2020): 101198, https://doi-org.uhn.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101198.
  9. R. 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 75, no. 1 (2019): 43–53, https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13822; H. J. Song, S. M. Choi, H. J. Seo, H. Lee, H. Son, and S. Lee, "Self-administered foot reflexology for the management of chronic health conditions: a systematic review," Journal of alternative and complementary medicine 21, no. 2 (2015): 69–76, https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2014.0166; A. Wanchai, and J. M. Armer, "A systematic review association of reflexology in managing symptoms and side effects of breast cancer treatment," Complementary therapies in clinical practice 38 (2020): 101074, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.101074.
  10. B. Candy, et al., "The effectiveness of aromatherapy, massage and reflexology in people with palliative care needs: A systematic review," Palliative medicine 34, no. 2 (2020): 179–194, https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216319884198; E. J. Tian, Y. Veziari, M. J. Leach, and S. Kumar, "The effectiveness of reflexology on mental health in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials," Complementary therapies in clinical practice 50, 101708 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101708; W. F. Yeung et al., "Acupressure, reflexology, and auricular acupressure for insomnia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials," Sleep medicine 13, no. 8 (2012): 971–984, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2012.06.003.