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 Forty-six million Americans are currently living with arthritis, the nation's leading cause of disability, and we are all paying a high price for it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the annual cost of arthritis to the United States economy was $128 billion in 2003 and increased by $20 billion between 1997 and 2003.
CDC attributes the dramatic increase to the aging of the population, predominantly baby boomers, and increased prevalence of arthritis. CDC also estimates an additional 8 million new cases of arthritis will be diagnosed in the next decade.
Here are some interesting clips about Reflexology and Arthritis. Do you know anyone with arthritis? You will be interested in my story if you do. My partner had disabling arthritis, pain and swelling in each of his finger and thumb joints before he became a Reflexologist.
As he practiced Reflexology he noticed that not only were his clients feeling better, but so was he. In less than two years his pain, swelling and disability in his fingers had disappeared. And, to his delight has never returned!
As a Reflexologist there are reflexes in the hands and fingers so that every time you give a session you also receive a session. Talk about a win-win situation!
Here is a report on some Reflexology and Arthritis studies.
Shoulder Arthritis
Forty-two cases of acromioclaviclar (shoulder) arthritis received thirty minute sessions of foot reflexology once a day for 15 days. At the finish, 8 were "cured," 20 were "distinctly effective" and 14 cases were "improved."
Zhi-xian, Ma and Jin-li, Zhang, "Foot Reflexology in the Treatment of Acromioclavicular Arthritis, (19)96 Beijing International Reflexology Conference (Report), China Preventive Medical Association and the Chinese Society of Reflexology, Beijing, 1996, p. 55
Knee Arthritis
Eight females and nine males, aged 5 to 80 years old, received ten daily 30 - 45 minute foot reflexo-therapy treatment. Arthralgia (joint pain) was caused by trauma in 5 cases, and by arthritis in 12 cases. Results: eleven patients (64.71%), including the 5 trauma caused cases completely recovered. Four patients (23.53%) improved. Two patients (11.76%) were unaffected.
By Chen Guang-ming, Yang-Hua Clinic, Shen Zhen City
Rheumatoid arthritis
This paper presents treatment of three female patients with rheumatoid arthritis, aged 37, 50 and 62. The seven hour-long foot reflexo-therapy treatments were administered on alternate days for a course of treatment. Two patients received two courses, the third received four. It was concluded that the foot reflexo-therapy has satisfactory anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, but its effect, in general views is moderate.
By Chi Jianwen, Guanzhou, China
If you have arthritis - try Reflexology - you have everything to gain.
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