Reflexology: Scientific Evidence of it’s effects physiological anxiety signs

Recently a scientific study (see details below) was published which evaluated the physiological anxiety signs and sedation needs of patients in intensive care units in a Turkish hospital.

Title: Reflexology: It’s effects on Physiological Anxiety Signs and Sedation Needs
Journal: Holistic Nursing Practioner
Authors: E. Korhan, L. Khorshid, M Uyar
Reference: 2014; 28 (1);6-23
Study Type: Randomised Controlled Trial – with control group receiving no treatment

Background

It is an accepted medical fact that when it is necessary to mechanically ventilate patients in intensive care units of hospitals, the patients experience stress and anxiety.  It is standard medical practice to relieve anxiety, pain, agitation with sedatives to ensure patient comfort. Sedatives however also have side effects causing high blood pressure, slow heart beat, coma, respiratory depression, muscle weakness and atrophy, increased risk of pneumonia, kidney problems and immunosuppression. It may also prolong the need for ventilation which in turn increases the risk of complications.

Method

60 patients were split into two groups one of which was the control group.  Sedation (Propofol) was reduced 30 min before treatment (or no treatment) which resulted in patients with mixed consciousness to which the outcome measure was administered. This was the American Association of critical care nurses sedation assessment scale (AACNSAS) and the vital signs recorded. Reflexology applied to ears, hands and feet bilaterally was given twice a day for a total of 30 minutes per day, over 5 days. The reflexology focussed on the brain, cortex, hypothalamus, hypophysis and subcortex; areas though to influence anxiety, agitation and stress response.

No reflexology was given to the control group but the sedation was reduced and all the same measurements were taken.

Results
The physiological signs of anxiety and stress i.e. blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate were are reduced in the group that received reflexology on each of the 5 days.  In addition there was a reduction in the requirement for sedatives in the group that received reflexology.

Conclusions
These findings ‘show that reflexology is an effective treatment in reducing the physiological signs of anxiety and stress in patients receiving mechanically ventilated support.’

This study provides scientific evidence to underpin the idea that reflexology has a beneficial effect on anxiety and stress.

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