The effects of reflexology on joint pain and disability in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip joints

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint disorders and affects a significant percentage of the elderly. Reflexology is a therapeutic method of applying appropriate compression technique to pressure points located, for instance, on feet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of foot reflexology treatment on pain and vitality level in persons with osteoarthritis. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on a group 20 individuals (16 women and 4 men) aged 41-76, who suffered from osteoarthritis. Two questionnaires (surveys), i.e. the NRS scale and the WOMAC questionnaire, were the research tools applied in the study. The study was conducted prior to the therapy and after a series of 8 sessions. Results: After the treatment, the researchers observed an improvement in average results obtained in the WOMAC questionnaire. Moreover, the respondents reported a reduction in pain intensity and improvement in functionality. The applied treatment effectively reduced the intake of pain medications by the surveyed individuals (p = 0.006). The respondents also reported improvement in the quality of sleep. Conclusions: According to the individuals surveyed, reflexology is an effective analgesic method, as a notable reduction in pain severity was observed. Reflexology increases the activity of patients and reduces the intake of pain medications.

The Effect of a Period of Kinesiotherapy and Reflexology on Pain Intensity and Range of Motion in Elderly Women With Knee Osteoarthritis

“…In this regard, for example, a study by Khadiga et al (2019) on 50 women with knee osteoarthritis revealed that 3 weeks of plantar reflexology had significant effects on pain intensity, functional disability, and range of active and inactive knee movement [14]. In their study, Kielar et al (2017) investigated the effects of plantar reflexology movements on joint pain and disability in patients with hip osteoarthritis. They confirmed that performing 8 reflexology sessions (45 minutes each session) significantly reduced the subjects' pain intensity.…”