Jones et al.1010 Jones J, Thomson P, Lauder W, Howie K, Leslie SJ. Reflexology has no immediate haemodynamic effect in patients with chronic heart failure: a double blind randomised controlled trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2013;19(3):133-8.
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Compare the immediate effect of the application on the area of the foot corresponding to the heart (IG) to nonspecific areas (CG) |
CG - placebo; unspecified zones of the foot |
12 patients with chronic heart failure |
IG - shoulder girdle region; CG - abdominal and pelvic region. |
Bilateral and for 4.5 min; one intervention and one placebo session. |
9 |
IG similar to CG (p>0.05). No improvement in pain. |
Wyatt et al.1111 Wyatt G, Sikorskii A, Rahbar MH, Victorson D, You M. Health-related quality-of-life outcomes: a reflexology trial with patients with advanced-stage breast cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2012;39(6):568-77.
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Evaluate the safety and efficacy of reflexology in breast cancer |
CG1 - random manipulation of the feet, superficial contact avoiding the IG areas; CG2 - conventional care. |
286 women with breast cancer. IG - 95, CG1 - 95; CG2 - 96. |
IG - stimulation on the nine essential breast cance specific reflexes w/ firm pressure and thumbwalk1212 Flynn LL, Bush TR, Sikorskii A, Mukherjee R, Wyatt G. Understanding the role of stimulation in reflexology: Development and testing of a robotic device. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2011;20(5):686-96.
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Weekly 30 min sessions for 4 weeks. |
9 |
IG similar to CG1 (p>0.05). No improvement in pain. |
Rambod, Pasyar and Shamsadini55 Rambod M, Pasyar N, Shamsadini M. The effect of foot reflexology on fatigue, pain, and sleep quality in lymphoma patients: a clinical trial. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2019;43:101678.
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Evaluate the effects of reflexology on fatigue, pain and sleep quality in patients with lymphoma |
CG - conventional hospital care |
72 patients with lymphoma, IG - 36 and CG 36. |
IG - used almond oil and were pressed, using slidings, rotation, and stretching on the hallux, solar plexus (sleep), inner and outer edges of the forefoot, midfoot, and inner edge of the sole and heel (fatigue and lower back pain, shoulder girdle, hands, legs, and feet). |
5 sessions on 5 consecutive days, 15 min on each foot |
8 |
IG superior to CG (p<0.05) |
Pasyar, Rambod and Kahkhaee1313 Pasyar N, Rambod M, Kahkhaee FR. The effect of foot massage on pain intensity and anxiety in patients having undergone a tibial shaft fracture surgery: a randomized clinical trial. J Orthop Trauma. 2018;32(12):E482-6.
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Evaluate the effects of reflexology on pain and anxiety after surgery for diaphyseal tibial fracture |
CG - conventional hospital care |
66 postoperatives of diaphyseal fracture of the tibia. IG - 33; CG - 33. |
IG - massage performed from the heel to the toes (dorsal and plantar surfaces), not selecting a specific area. Sliding movement using almond oil. |
Single session, 10 min (5 on each foot) |
8 |
IG superior to CG (p<0.001) |
Medeiros, Sasso and Schlindwein77 Medeiros GM, Sasso GT, Schlindwein AD. Results of foot reflexotherapy in acute lower back pain of the nursing team: controlled randomized clinical test. BrJP. 2018;1(4):305-9.
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Describe the relief of acute low back pain through foot reflexology in hospital nursing staff |
CG - non-specific reflexotherapy, with gentle and superficial kneading |
36 nurses w/ acute low back pain. IG - 17, CG - 19. |
IG - reflex areas stimulated w/ strong kneading: spine (thoracic and lumbar), hip, pelvis. Area of lumbar musculature and sciatic nerve. 3 x 8 repetitions in each area. |
Two sessions (72-hour interval) on both feet of 30 minutes (15 each) |
8 |
IG superior to CG (p<0.01) |
Saatsaz et al.1414 Saatsaz S, Rezaei R, Alipour A, Beheshti Z. Massage as adjuvant therapy in the management of post-cesarean pain and anxiety: a randomized clinical trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016;24:92-8.
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Determine the effect of massage in pain and anxiety after cesarean section |
CG1 - Hand and foot massage CG2 - conventional hospital care. |
156 participants after cesarean section IG - foot massage (52), CG1 - manual and foot massage (52), CG2 - (52) |
IG - Petrissage, kneading and rubbing applied with vaseline and with no specification of the stimulated reflex zones |
Single session, 5 min on each limb. |
8 |
IG and CG1 superior to CG2 (p<0.001) |
Imani et al.66 Imani N, Shams SA, Radfar M, Ghavami H, Khalkhali HR. Effect of applying reflexology massage on nitroglycerin-induced migraine-type headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial. Agri. 2018;30(3):116-22.
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Evaluate the effects of reflexology on nitroglycerin- induced migraine |
CG1- placebo, unspecified site massage (heel); CG2 - control, no massage |
75 patients admitted to the coronary unit. IG - 25, CG1 - 25, CG2 - 25 |
IG - massage applied to the upper portion of both hallux (head-brain reflex zone). Continuous and uniform pressure applied with the thumb. |
Two 20 min sessions (10 min on each foot). Interval of 3h between sessions. |
7 |
IG superior to CG1 and CG2 (p<0.001) |
Wojciech, Pawel and Halina1515 Wojciech K, Pawel L, Halina RZ. Effects of feet reflexology versus segmental massage in reducing pain and its intensity, frequency and duration of the attacks in females with migraine: a pilot study. J Tradit Chin Med. 2017;37(2):214-9.
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Evaluate the effects of foot reflexology and segmental massage on migraines |
CG - segmental massage, 3 times per week, 20 min, 15 total. Application in multiple locations: spine and back muscles, pectoralis major, neck, and head |
40 women w/ migraine attacks (2-10 years). IG - 20, CG - 20. |
IG - pressure applied w/ thumb on solar plexus, pituitary gland, heart and liver (reflex zones). The other parts of the plantar face of the foot were also massaged, and the solar plexus was the last. |
2 sessions per week, 30 min (15 on each foot), 10 total. |
7 |
IG superior to CG (p<0.05) |
Koç and Gozen1616 Koç T, Gözen D. The effect of foot reflexology on acute pain in infants: a randomized controlled trial. Worldviews Evidence-Based Nurs. 2015;12(5):289-96.
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Evaluate the effect of foot reflexology applied to infants on acute pain that may arise after vaccination. |
CG - control, no massage. |
60 infants (up to 12 months) pre-vaccine. IG - 30; CG - 30. |
IG - applied sliding of the toes toward the heel |
20-30 min of foot stimulation |
7 |
IG superior to CG (p<0.001) |
Hattan, King and Griffiths1818 Hattan J, King L, Griffiths P. The impact of foot massage and guided relaxation following cardiac surgery: A randomized controlled trial. J Adv Nurs. 2002;37(2):199-207.
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Investigate the impact of foot massage and guided relaxation on patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting |
CG1 - listened to a 20 min guided relaxation recording; CG2 - conventional hospital care |
25 subjects post coronary artery bypass graft surgery. IG - 9; CG1 - 9; CG2 - 7. |
IG - unspecified |
Singles session of 20 min |
6 |
IG similar to CG1 and CG2 (p >0.05). No improvement in pain. |
Bakir, Baglama and Gursoy22 Bakir E, Baglama SS, Gursoy S. The effects of reflexology on pain and sleep deprivation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018;31:315-9.
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To examine the effect of foot reflexology on pain and quality of sleep in patients with rheumatoid arthritis |
CG - routine monitoring of the polyclinic |
60 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. CG - 30 and IG - 30. |
IG - Vaseline for lubrication, 5 min of general warm up movements. A) 3 min for the brain part (in the pituitary and pineal gland in the hallux). B) the spinal cord point, from the hallux to the middle of the heel. C) 2 min minimum pressure on the solar plexus point (reflex point of the central nervous system reflex point on the plantar surface). D) 3 min to stimulate the lymphatic system. E) 3 min in each region of the diaphragm; in the thyroid, stomach, and adrenal glands points. F) 5 min general movements. |
6 sessions of 60 min (30 min each foot), 1 x week |
5 |
IG superior to CG (p<0,01) |
Uysal et al.1919 Uysal N, Kutlutürkan S, Ugur I. Effects of foot massage applied in two different methods on symptom control in colorectal cancer patients: randomised control trial. Int J Nurs Pract. 2017;23(3).
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To determine the effect of 2 methods of foot massage on symptom control in people with colorectal cancer |
CG1 - classical foot massage (effleurage, petrissage, friction, and vibration) was applied for 10 min on each foot, including the dorsum and sole of the feet. CG2 - routine clinical care |
60 patients w/ colorectal cancer who received chemoradiotherapy. IG -30, CG1 - 30 and CG2 - 30. |
IG - stimulated reflex points: A) lymphatic system; B) organs included in the radiation area in the pelvic region - stomach, liver, spleen, spinal cord, colon and rectal orifice; C) sciatic region; D) brain, pituitary gland, hypothalamus, pineal gland and solar plexus. |
2 x week, for 5 weeks. 30 min each session. 20 min on the right foot (represents the sympathetic system) and 10 min on the left foot (represents parasympathetic system) |
5 |
IG effective in reducing pain and fatigue level, CG1 effective in reducing pain level. IG and CG1 superior to CG2 (p<0.05) |
Nazari et al.2020 Nazari F, Soheili M, Hosseini S, Shaygannejad V. A comparison of the effects of reflexology and relaxation on pain in women with multiple sclerosis. J Complement Integr Med. 2016;13(1):65-71.
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Determine and compare the effects of reflexology and relaxation on pain in women with multiple sclerosis |
CG1 - Jacobson and Benson techniques via guided relaxation recording. 2 x week, for 4 weeks, 40 min. CG2 - usual care |
75 women with multiple sclerosis. IG - 25, CG1 - 25 and CG2 - 25. |
IG - General massage, followed by pressure and thumb walk movements on the points of the solar plexus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, spinal cord, Kidney 1 (K1), adrenal glands and pelvis. 20 min on each foot. Finishing with pressure in the solar plexus. |
2 x week, for 4 weeks, 40 min. |
5 |
IG superior to CG1 and CG2 (p<0.05). No difference between the 3 groups 2 months later (follow up) |
Hanjani, Tourzani and Shoghi2121 Hanjani SM, Tourzani ZM, Shoghi M. The effect of foot reflexology on anxiety, pain, and outcomes of the labor in primigravida women. Acta Med Iran. 2015;53(8):507-11.
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Determine the effect of foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in primiparous women |
CG - massage on other parts of the foot (unspecified). |
80 primiparous women in labor, IG - 40 and CG 40. |
IG - sunflower oil, massage performed on the entire soles of the feet at first. Later, rotational pressure on the pituitary gland, solar plexus and uterus points. |
Single session, 40 min, 20 on each foot. |
4 |
IG superior to CG (p<0.001) |
Stephenson et al.2222 Stephenson NLN, Swanson M, Dalton JA, Keefe FJ, Engelke M. Partner-delivered reflexology: Effects on cancer pain and anxiety. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2007;34(1):127-32.
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Compare the effects of partnered foot reflexology on pain and anxiety in cancer patients |
CG - conventional hospital care, attention, and 30 min of reading on a topic the patient enjoys. |
86 participants w/ cancer in random regions and metastasis. IG - 42 and CG - 44. |
IG - Initial 10 min of general relaxing massage involving ankle, dorsal and plantar portions of the feet. 15 min of specific stimulation corresponding to the patient's areas and organs of complaint. Stimulation was also performed on the pituitary, thyroid and adrenal gland, and solar plexus points. A final 5 min of general relaxing massage. |
A 30 min session applied by the patient's partner. |
4 |
IG superior to CG (p<0.001) |
Özdemir, Ovayolu and Ovayolu2323 Özdemir G, Ovayolu N, Ovayolu Ö. The effect of reflexology applied on haemodialysis patients with fatigue, pain and cramps. Int J Nurs Pract. 2013;19(3):265-73.
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To evaluate the effect of foot reflexology on fatigue, pain and cramps in hemodialysis patients |
CG - no mention of intervention |
80 patients on hemodialysis. IG - 40, CG - 40. |
IG - 5 min initial general relaxing massage involving ankle, dorsal and plantar portions of the feet. 7 min of specific stimulation corresponding to areas and organs of complaint of the patient. 7 min of stimulation on the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, adrenal glands, and solar plexus points. Final 3 min of relaxing massage. Pressure, sliding and kneading were performed on the mentioned points. |
3 sessions in one week after hemodialysis. 30 min, 15 min on each foot |
3 |
IG superior to CG (p<0.05) |