The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Pain and Kinesiophobia in Patients
Following Total Knee Arthroplasty
A study from researchers in Turkey examined the impact of foot reflexology on pain and fear of movement (kinesiophobia) in patients post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
Conducted as a double-blind randomized controlled trial, the study involved 40 patients, equally divided into an intervention group receiving foot reflexology and a control group.
Results indicated that the intervention group experienced a significantly faster decrease in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores and an improvement in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores over time, while the control group's WOMAC scores worsened.
Additionally, the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia scores decreased in the intervention group but increased in the control group, and the intervention group also used fewer analgesics.
These findings suggest that foot reflexology is an effective and safe method for managing pain and reducing kinesiophobia in post-total knee arthroplasty patients.
