Short-term effects of foot reflexology on pain, anxiety, and physiological responses in women with shoulder and neck pain: A randomized controlled trial.

Study Summary

87 women aged 20–64 years with shoulder and neck pain (SNP) were randomized to receive foot reflexology (FR), structured exercise, or passive rest. Outcomes of interest included pain intensity, measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and anxiety, assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Additional outcomes included heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately following a single 50-minute intervention, and at 24 hours, although physiological measurements were limited to the immediate post-intervention assessment. Overall, the results revealed that FR and exercise significantly reduced pain compared with passive rest, while FR additionally improved anxiety and heart rate. Pain reduction following FR persisted at 24 hours, whereas improvements in anxiety did not. These findings suggested that FR could provide short-term relief of pain and anxiety in women with SNP, although its long-term effectiveness remained uncertain.