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| Reflexology & Back Pain |
Block One |
| Reflexology & Childbirth |
Block Two |
A study of the effect
of Reflexology on people with Multiple Sclerosis |
Block Three |
The possible value of
Reflexology in diagnosed Myalgic Encephalomyelitis |
Block Four |
| Hand and foot reflex area massage in
the treatment of Senile Cataract |
Block Five |
| Foot Reflexo-Massage in three
patients with Intractable Facial Palsy |
Block Six |
Block One
Reflexology & Back Pain
A study conducted at the Hospital of Beijing College
of Languages investigated the effect of Reflexology treatment on acute lower back pain .
Twenty patients between the ages of 35 and 55, all of whom were
teachers or office workers, and suffering from lower back strain participated in the
study.
The reflex points on the patients’ feet were treated for a maximum of
ten treatments and the results analysed. All of the patients reported that the treatment
had effectively eliminated their pain; 5 of the patients obtained complete relief after
only one treatment, 10 after 3 to 4 treatments and a further 5 after 5 to 7 treatments. No
analgesics or other medications were used throughout the course of treatments.
Although a small scale study, it adds to the growing body of evidence
confirming that Reflexology has extensive therapeutic value beyond the realms of mere
relaxation and stress management.
Ciao Zhenge, Hospital of Beijing College of Languages Reflexology Research
Reports 2nd Edn. Compiled by K Walker. Association of Reflexologists.
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Block Two
Reflexology & Childbirth
Whenever stress and nervous tension are present,
reflexology, like massage and aromatherapy can be very effective in inducing relaxation.
It will also help to 'balance' organs and tissues throughout the body and, acting through
the nervous system, actually help strengthen and normalise the circulatory system. In this
way, it can help activate the body's own healing force to aid recovery.
Reflexology may also be employed to help stimulate the reproductive organs
through the autonomic nervous system and so help strengthen and correct under functioning
organs and balance hormonal function. Although there are no controlled studies on the
subject of reflexology and infertility, there have been research studies relating to the
effects of reflexology and childbirth.
A study at the Gentofte Hospital in Copenhagen revealed that reflexology
is beneficial to women during the labour of childbirth. 58 out of 60 women giving birth
experienced "outstanding pain relief using reflexology treatment", and 11 out of
14 women were able to avoid surgery under general anaesthesia. Dr Carsten Lenstrup was so
impressed by the results that he said: "Taken as a whole, the results are so good
that am not in any doubt that reflexology can give many women a better, easier and less
painful delivery than they would have had otherwise." (2)
The findings of the Gentofte study were supported by a further study
carried out by Dr Gowri Motva at the Jeyrani Birth Centre on the effects of reflexology on
pregnant women. 37 pregnant women completed a course of 10 reflexology treatments with
remarkable effect. The average length of the first stage of labour was 5 hours whereas the
text book average is 16 - 24 hours; the second stage of labour lasted an average of 16
minutes compared to the text book expectancy of 1 - 2 hours, and only 5.4% of the women
who had reflexology treatment required emergency caesarian section compared to an average
of 13% in Newham district which was the district where the study was conducted.(2)
(1) Reported in "Berlingske Tidende" 15 July 1988
(2) Reflexology Association - Research Co-ordinator Kristine Walker
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| Block Three
A study of the effect of
Reflexology on people with Multiple Sclerosis
By Marion Joyce and Rosemary Richardson
Twenty six participants were assigned to two
groups, 14 to treatment group and 12 to a control group. Both groups were assessed at the
same intervals on a simple form listing 19 symptoms of MS before the treatment group
received treatment, after 6 weeks of treatment, after 12 weeks of treatment and six weeks
after the treatment group ceased treatment. After 6 weeks of treatment a significant
number of participants in the treatment group showed an improvement over the range of
symptoms. After 12 weeks of treatment 81.53% of these improvements were maintained, some
people improved further and some who had not improved began to improve. In the assessment
conducted 6 weeks after treatments were ceased, some people had maintained their
improvements, most noticeably in the symptoms of bladder control, sleep, circulation and
constipation; many participants lost the improvements that they had gained or their
symptoms showed signs of worsening. All participants in the treatment group showed some
improvements of their symptoms and enjoyed the reflexology treatments. They also reported
that other medical conditions such as asthma, sinuses, sciatica, migraine and menstrual
problems were benefited by reflexology. It was hoped that continued reflexology treatments
would maintain and build upon the improvements reported in the study, and that, sessions
needed to be maintained in that the six week break showed some of the benefits gained
started to diminish. The assessment for the control group showed that some participants
had symptoms improve, more of them worsened and the majority showed no changes in their
symptoms.
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Block Four
The possible value of Reflexology in diagnosed
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
By Thomas S. McCreadie, GSSR, Member of the Scottish Institute of
Reflexology
Six patients aged 38 to 65 years, diagnosed as
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (painful inflammation of the brain and spinal cord) sufferers by
general practitioners, who had a mean duration of suffering of 8 years were treated with
10 reflexology treatments. It was found that 5 treatments were necessary to effect change.
All patients experienced a reduction in pain and tiredness after some of the sessions.
After 6 months, 5 patients felt that their continuing improvement began with their
reflexology treatment.
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| Block Five
Hand and foot reflex area massage
in the treatment of Senile Cataract
By Zhou Di-Xin, Wuxi Commercial Hospital, Jiangsu, China
Ten patients (4 males and 6 females) aged 58 - 73
years, with senile cataracts diagnosed by an ophthalmologist, whose clinical courses
ranged from 2 to 25 years, were used for this study. Foot reflex area massage was applied
daily, with twenty sessions consisting one course of treatment. Most patients received two
to three courses of treatment. Visual acuity was assessed pre and post treatment.
Improvement was recorded for all 10 patients, and it was concluded that foot reflex area
massage has a therapeutic effect in senile cataract.
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| Block Six
Foot Reflexo-Massage in three
patients with Intractable Facial Palsy
By Bei Zuofu, Tan Chunfang and Bei Meng, People's Hospital, Qingan
County, Heilongjiang
Foot reflexotherapy was used to successfully treat three patients diagnosed with
intractable facial palsy. These three patients had been unresponsive to previous
therapies, including systemic and local medicines, acupuncture and physical therapies. A
typical case is presented in which daily 30 minute treatments were applied for six days.
This was followed by the patient applying self treatment for two weeks, at which point she
was completely cured - normal.
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