The effect of foot reflexology applied to women aged between 40 and 60 on vasomotor complaints and quality of life.

4 Large controlled trial

What this means for you: this demonstrably works.

Type of study: controlled trial
Studied in: people
Participants: 120
Published: 2017 in Complementary therapies in clinical practice
Cited: 5 times by other research
Who paid: Not declared. PubMed carries no conflict-of-interest statement for most articles; that is not the same as independent.
Source: PubMed 27502805 · doi 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.05.011

The plain-language write-up of this study is still being written. Below is the abstract exactly as the researchers published it.

Abstract by the researchers — original text

PURPOSE: This study aims to identify the effects of foot reflexology applied to women on their vasomotor complaints and quality of life. METHODS: A randomised controlled study was conducted with 120 women. The experimental group received foot reflexology treatment, while the control group received nonspecific foot massage. RESULTS: The mean scores for hot flashes, sweats, and night sweats, were lower in the reflexology group than the control group after the practice; and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean scores for the sub-groups of the MENQOL demonstrated improvements in both groups after the application (p < 0.001). As for the sexual domain, there was a significant improvement in the reflexology group (p < 0.05), but no improvements were found in the control group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results showed that reflexology might be effective in decreasing vasomotor problems and increasing quality of life in women in the menopausal period.