Somatotopical relationships between cortical activity and reflex areas in reflexology: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Nakamaru T, Miura N, *censored*ushima A, Kawashima R.

Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.

We examined the somatotopical relationship between cortical activity and sensory stimulation of reflex areas in reflexology using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of foot reflexology on fatigue and insomnia in patients suffering from coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

Method:This study was a quasi-experimental study of pre-test and post-test design in a non-equivalent control group. The subjects of this study consisted of both the experimental group of twenty-nine and the control group of thirty coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients. Data was collected from December 10, 2002 to February 15, 2003.

Method: Sixty patients of general surgery were randomly assigned to a control group or a reflexology group. All were given the "required quantity of standard drugs such as NSAID (Diclofenac and Opioids (Pethidine and Fentanyl)."

Fifteen to twenty minutes of foot reflexology work was applied to the treatment group.

Results: "This study show a decrease of the quantity of pain killers in Group I (foot reflexology) to less than 50% in comparison with Group II (control)."

Dr. Shweta Choudhary PhD (Dept of Biophysis), Dr. Guresh Kumar, Dr. Kulwant Singh (Dept. of Biostatistics), All-India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi, India

B. S. M. Frankel of the Department of Physiology, University of Leeds, England has conducted a pilot study "to identify if reflexology and foot massage affect the physiology of the body by measuring baroreceptor reflex sensitivity, blood pressure, and sinus arrhythmia." Ten recipients of reflexology work and ten recipients of foot massage work were compared to a control group of four individuals in a single blind study.

Frankel found that "The reflexology and foot massage groups showed significantly greater reductions in baroreceptor reflex sensitivity compared to the control group.

Foot reflexology applied during an active onset of angina and observed with EKG showed disappearance of symptoms and a change to T-waves in V1.3 elevated from depressed T-waves and T-waves in V5 inverted upright from an inversion of T-waves. Following a 10-day course of daily 50 minute foot reflexology sessions, nocturnal attacks of premature beats were relieved though premature beats still occurred occasionally.

Bing-zhao, Zhang, "Effect of Foot Massage on a Patient with Angina Observing with EKG; A Case Report," 1994 China Reflexology Symposium Report, China Reflexology Association, Beijing, p. 53 (Outpatient Dept., Senile Convalescent Hospital, Shenyang, China)

Reflexology and the Health of Future Generations : Starting With Children

Like many other recent consultation papers, The National Children's Bureau's report 'Supporting Families' recognizes that a good start in life is a crucial part of an individual's future health and well-being. Through expanding the work that they do with children, Reflexologists can play an important part in securing the health of future generations.

Reflexology has become one of the UK's leading complementary therapies. Yet, at present, comparatively few children in the UK receive regular reflexology treatment. Many parents and children are still completely unaware of the wide variety of conditions that can be successfully treated using reflexology. Very few MD's actively promote reflexology as part of the medical treatment of children's ailments. The majority of parents, children and medical professionals are still unaware that reflexology is one of the most effective and safe complementary therapies and that children enjoy it!

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 analyzed. 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.

- Xiao Zhenge, Hospital of Beijing College of Languages

For more reflexology information enjoy reading Reflexology - An Evolving Science in the Research & Articles Section.

According to a 1994 Swiss medical report, foot Reflexology is one of the most useful treatments for post operative gynaecological patients. The researchers demonstrated that reflexology enhances urination, stimulates bowel movements and so aids recovery. Patients who received reflexology treatment also showed a much less need for medication than patients in the control group.

- Kesselring A. (foot reflex zone massage) Fussreflexzonemassage. Schweiz med Wochenschr suppl (SWITZERLAND) 1994, 62 p88-93

For more reflexology information enjoy reading How did Today's Health System Evolve? in the Research & Articles Section.

Recent research from China suggest that reflexology may be particularly helpful for patients suffering from nervous exhaustion.

Twenty patients with a history of neurasthenia (nervous exhaustion) which had lasted between 1 - 8 years were given a course of reflexology at the department of physiotherapy, 52884 Military Hospital.

The patients' chief symptoms were dizziness, insomnia, memory loss, indigestion and headaches. All had previously received long term medical treatment none of which had helped them.

Randomized Controlled Study of Premenstrual Symptoms Treated with Ear, Hand and Foot Reflexology

By Terry Oleson PhD and William Flocco, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vol. 82, No. 6, December 1993

This study was designed to determine whether reflexology treatment can significantly reduce premenstrual symptoms compared to a placebo treatment. Thirty-five women who complained of previous distress with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were randomly assigned to be treated by ear, hand and foot reflexology or to receive placebo reflexology. All subjects completed a daily diary, which monitored 38 premenstrual symptoms on a four-point scale.