Something Else

Reflexology Research

Research and Reflexology

It is foolish to imply that reflexology is a replacement for medicine, or can successfully treat serious illnesses. However it is equally foolish to suggest that there is no evidence base to support its use alongside traditional medical approaches. Reflexology should be used as a complement to standard healthcare. The many applications for the therapy include: maintaining the immune system, encouraging better balance of hormones, stabilising blood pressure, and encouraging digestion to function optimally. There are a range of conditions linked to these applications, which might benefit from regular treatment.

For more information on research - visit the research pages of reflexology news - www.reflexologynews.com

What is Research?

An ‘evidence base’ is considered to be a body of clinically controlled, reliable and valid research. This means that it must have been conducted with certain safeguards , controls and pre-requisites in place. There is now a small body of research into reflexology, and this research base is growing.

There is evidence to suggest that reflexology has a helpful role to play in alleviating the symptoms of illness, and in supporting the ‘whole person’ in their healing.
Here are some examples of research which has been conducted into reflexology and its effects:

1. Reflexology is shown to have a positive effect on essential hypertension

Blood pressure was measured by nurses after reflexology. A positive reduction was noted in systolic pressure, and also in triglycerides after four weeks treatment.
Reference: Park HS, Cho GY, Foot reflexology on Essential Hypertension patients. Daehan Ganho Haghoeji. 34(5):739-50,2004 August.

2. Reflexology is shown to increase blood flow to organs.

When a point mid way up the sole of the foot is pressed, (this is known as a kidney point to reflexologists) the kidney is shown to have an increased blood flow. Points pressed away from this area were shown to have no effect on blood flow to the kidney. This was measured on a machine known as a ‘Doppler sonograph’ used to measure kidney function.
Reference: Sudmeier, I. Bodner,G. Egger,I. Mur,E. Ulmer, H. Herold, M. Changes of renal blood flow during organ associated foot reflexology measured by colour Doppler Sonography. Forschende Komplementarmedizin. 6(3):129-134, 1999 Jun.

3. Reflexology spinal points are shown to help back pain.

Reflexology spinal points are located around the inner edges of both feet, the lumbar spine areas along the arch of the foot. Research showed that when these points were pressed pain relief was experienced by participants with low back pain. This was compared to those participants who only received a foot massage, where no spinal points were pressed. The back pain in these participants did not improve.
Reference. Quinn F, Hughes CM, Baxter GD. Reflexology in the management of low back pain: A pilot randomised controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2008; 16: 3-8.

4. Reflexology improves constipation in children

Reflexology was shown to have a dramatic effect on children with constipation and faecal incontinence. Parents administered reflexology after an initial series of treatments. The number of bowel movements increased and incidences of soiling decreased. Parents were satisfied with the effects of reflexology on their children’s constipation.
Reference Bishop E. McKinnon E. Weir E. Brown D.W. Reflexology in the management of encopresis and chronic constipation. Paedriatic Nursing. 15(3):20-1, 2003 Apr.

5. Reflexology eye point lights up on MRI scanner

Reflexology points on the foot related to the shoulder, small intestines and eye were pressed on a participant in an MRI scanner. A statistical analysis showed that stimulation of these foot points activated not only the somatosensory areas corresponding to the foot, but also the somatosensory areas corresponding to the eye, shoulder and small intestine.
Reference. Nakamura T. Miura N. Fukishima A. Kawashima R. Somatotopical relationships between cortical activity and reflex areas in reflexology: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Neuroscience letters. 448(1):6-9,2008 Dec 19.

These are just a sample of the research which is going on in the field of reflexology. There is still much debate about the mechanism of action but there is little doubt that the popularity of reflexology is growing, and largely being driven by success on the ground.
Anecdotal evidence is not seen as reliable in research circles, but it is nevertheless what is driving the reflexology practices on the high street.

We at Something else therapy centre and in the training environments at the Academy of Combined Reflexology and at UWIC are passionate about research, and committed to delivering a higher quality evidence base for reflexology. We believe that an understanding of research is fundamental to providing a better service to clients, and the cornerstone of practice. It is essential that this type of quality underpins any treatments we give, and continues to inform our drive towards continuing improvement and refining our practices.

It is to be hoped that this quality will eventually allow properly trained reflexologists to work alongside other healthcare professionals in supporting and enhancing medical treatment.