The Effectiveness of Foot Reflexology in the Severity of Restless Legs Syndrome in Female Patients Undergoing Dialysis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Restless leg syndrome is an ordinary complaint among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Reflexology is a nursing intervention that can reduce the restless leg syndrome. This study aimed at investigating the effect of foot reflexology on the severity of restless leg syndrome in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with a before-and-after design was conducted in hemodialysis patients attending a hospital in an urban area of Iran in 2016. Using a random sampling method, 72 female patients were divided into the experimental and placebo groups (n = 36 in each group). The patients in the experimental group received foot reflexology. In the placebo group, simple foot reflexology without pressing certain parts of the foot was conducted. The restless leg syndrome questionnaire was used to measure the severity of restless leg syndrome before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v. 21 software. Results: After the intervention, the score of restless leg syndrome in the experimental group reduced compared to the placebo group (P = 0.02), while the group score of restless leg syndrome showed no statistically significant difference between the experimental and placebo groups (P = 0.84). Conclusions: Foot reflexology can be used as a safe and non-pharmacologic nursing intervention in reducing the restless leg syndrome among female patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Comparison of the Effect of Reflexology and Swedish Massage on Restless Legs Syndrome and Sleep Quality in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: a Randomized Clinical Trial

“…However, one month after the intervention, results showed a decrease in improvement of restless leg syndrome and sleep quality in both intervention groups. Furthermore, Ghasemi et al ( 28 ) claimed that plantar reflexology could reduce the RLS intensity among the patients. Furthermore, Ozdemir et al ( 37 ) argued that plantar reflexology could reduce fatigue, pain, and muscle cramps among hemodialysis patients.…”

“…Inclusion criteria included being 18 to 65 years old, ( 26 ) three months or more since the first dialysis, ( 27 ) having at least three hemodialysis treatments per week lasting 4 hours each time, ( 28 ) having no medical prohibition for the intervention such as foot ulcers, amputation, and orthopedic problems, ( 29 ) having no debilitating and chronic diseases such as cancer, chronic respiratory failure, heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus, ( 29 ) having no psychological disorders known as depression and bipolar disorder according to the patient’s self-declaration, and diagnosis of RLS based on completing a diagnosis questionnaire.…”

Effect of Foot Reflexology on Sexual Function of Patients under Hemodialysis: A Randomized Parallel Controlled Clinical Trial

“…Out of 110 patients undergoing hemodialysis in the study setting, 55 patients met the inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were patients aged 18–65 years [ 29 ], who did not use drugs for sexual problems [ 29 ], were at least 3 months on hemodialysis [ 30 ] three times a week, four hours each time [ 25 , 31 ], with no medical contraindications such as foot ulcers, amputation, and orthopedic problems [ 23 , 32 ], no debilitating and chronic diseases such as cancer, chronic respiratory failure, heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus erythematosus [ 17 , 23 ], those who were married and living with a spouse [ 33 – 35 ], and with no known psychological problems such as depression and bipolar disorder according to the patient's self-declaration [ 29 ]. Exclusion criteria were medical contraindications (such as diabetic foot ulcers), death or divorce of a spouse, failure to perform the intervention in three consecutive sessions, and failure to complete the questionnaires.…”

“…The reflex points in the present study were solar plexus, pituitary gland, kidney, pineal gland, heart, liver/spleen, adrenal, lung, stomach, ovary/testis, uterus/prostate [ 3 , 35 , 40 – 43 ]. She massaged and gently applied pressure on each of the above points for one minute based on the patient's tolerance [ 25 ].…”

“…A systematic review of studies on sexual function showed contradictory results of aerobic exercises and no effect of resistance training on patients' sexual functions [ 22 ]. The effect of reflexology was studied on factors such as the severity of fatigue [ 23 ], depression [ 24 ], restless legs syndrome [ 25 ], pain, muscle cramps [ 26 ], sleep quality [ 27 ] of the hemodialysis patients, but no study has investigated the effect of reflexology on sexual function of the hemodialysis patients.…”