Guideline provides recommendations for integrative approaches to manage cancer pain.

These approaches — which include acupuncture, massage, hypnosis or reflexology — may be more

beneficial for certain patients based on the type of pain they are experiencing and the reasons for it, a collaborative study conducted by Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO showed.

Link to article and video here

Acupuncture or reflexology or acupressure may be recommended for general cancer pain or musculoskeletal pain. Hypnosis may be recommended to patients who experience procedural pain. 

Journal of Clinical Oncology. Link here

The Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) has been thought to be one of the best oncology journals out there. It’s one of the most read and influential, with an impact factor of 50.717, placing it among the top 1% of academic journals. This is an astoundingly high IF for a specialty journal. 

The effect of foot reflexology on fatigue, pain, and sleep quality in lymphoma patients: A clinical trial

Highlights

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Foot reflexology reduced fatigue in lymphoma patients.

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Foot reflexology also decreased general and physical fatigue and improved reduced activity.

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Foot reflexology relieved pain intensity in lymphoma patients.

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Foot reflexology improved sleep quality in lymphoma patients.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of reflexology on fatigue, pain, and sleep quality in lymphoma patients.

Method

This study was a randomized clinical trial with pre-post design. Seventy-two lymphoma patients admitted in hematology wards affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran in 2018 were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Patients in the intervention group underwent foot reflexology for five consecutive days. The control group received usual care. The data were collected by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, a numerical pain scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index. Data analysis was done by the SPSS software, version 21 using ANCOVA, paired t-test, and Wilcoxon test.

Results

At baseline, both intervention and control groups were the same in terms of fatigue, pain, and sleep quality (p > 0.05). However, a significant difference was found between the two groups regarding fatigue, pain, and sleep quality after the intervention (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The results showed that reflexology could reduce fatigue and pain and improve the quality of sleep in patients with lymphoma. Considering the effectiveness of reflexology in lymphoma patients, healthcare workers including nurses are recommended to use this complementary therapy to reduce fatigue and pain and improve sleep quality in lymphoma patients.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462388919301462?fbclid=IwAR2PKFIWPpBip_smlXaysZadwxpcu7FZvdAcA9dhfV-MLe7D8tiHHKEmjX0

Healthcare service utilization and work-related productivity in reflexology intervention for advanced breast cancer women.

Tracey Smith our Head of Reflexology Support and Research says

"This is a great piece of research from Michigan State University, to share for anyone working on site in a business. It shows (albeit a tiny study) that reflexology intervention reduced time off for hospital visits, absenteeism and presenteeism and increased workplace productivity within a group of people living with advanced breast cancer."

Luo Z1, Wang L2, Sikorskii A3, Wyatt G4.

Author information

1

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824, USA. zluo@msu.edu.

2

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824, USA.

3

Department of Psychiatry, Department of Statistics and Probability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.

4

College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

This project's purpose was to determine the effects of a home-based reflexology intervention on symptom-related use of health services and work-related productivity during the 11-week study.

METHODS:

A total of 256 patients were randomized to four weekly reflexology sessions (each lasting 30 min, delivered by lay caregivers who received two training sessions by a professional reflexologist) or attention control. The Conventional Health Service and Productivity Costs Form was used to collect information on health service utilization and out-of-pocket expenditure of symptom management. The Health and Work Performance Questionnaire was used to measure workplace performance for patients during the study period. We used weighted and unweighted logistic and linear regression analyses.

RESULTS:

Patients in the reflexology group were less likely to have hospital visits compared to the control group in the weighted unadjusted (odds ratio [OR] = 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.25, 0.97]), unweighted adjusted (OR = 0.35; 95% CI = [0.16, 0.75]), and weighted adjusted (OR = 0.30, 95% CI = [0.13, 0.66]) logistic regressions. Compared to attention control, patients in the reflexology group had lower relative absenteeism in the unweighted adjusted (- 0.32; 95% CI = [- 0.60, - 0.03]) linear regressions and less absolute presenteeism (15.42, 95% CI = [0.87, 29.98]) in the weighted unadjusted analysis.

CONCLUSION:

The reflexology intervention delivered by lay caregivers reduced hospital visits and increased workplace productivity in a short-term period, which has potential for cost saving for health care systems and employers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:

NCT01582971.

KEYWORDS:

Breast cancer; Health service expenditure, absenteeism, presenteeism; Health service utilization; Reflexology

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30552595

Effects of aroma self-foot reflexology on peripheral neuropathy

Effects of aroma self-foot reflexology on peripheral neuropathy, peripheral skin temperature, anxiety, and depression in gynaecologic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A randomised controlled trial.

Noh GO1, Park KS2.

Author information

1

College of Nursing, Konyang University, Daejeon, South Korea.

2

Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: kspark@cau.ac.kr.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) can interfere with activities of daily living and can negatively affect symptoms. Thus, this study aimed to develop and implement an aroma self-foot reflexology regimen based on Cox's Interaction Model of Client Health Behaviour (IMCHB) as an intervention that can be self-performed at home and at any time. The effects of aroma self-foot reflexology on peripheral neuropathy, peripheral skin temperature, anxiety, and depression were examined in patients with gynaecologic cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy.

METHODS:

This randomized controlled trial included 32 experimental and 31 control patients with CIPN. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires (CIPN assessment tool, HADS). In the experimental group, peripheral neuropathy, peripheral skin temperature, anxiety, and depression were measured before and after aroma self-foot reflexology therapy for 6 weeks. The control group was provided with identical aroma self-foot reflexology training 6 weeks later and underwent the intervention at that time.

RESULTS:

The intervention resulted in lower levels of symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, less interference with activities (p < .001), and higher peripheral skin temperature level (p < .001). Anxiety and depression decreased in the experimental group (p < .001). The ratio of borderline and definite cases of anxiety and depression did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

An aroma self-foot reflexology intervention can reduce CIPN, anxiety, and depression in gynaecologic cancer patients. Further research is required to assess the effects of differences in the content of the intervention and the effects of various numbers of applications and durations of applications based on each individual patient's condition.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NIH Research Grant Funds Study on the Effects of Reflexology & Cancer

NIH Research Grant Funds Study on the Effects of Reflexology & Cancer

Ουσία 1η = το θεραπευτικό πρωτόκολλο

The reflexology protocol was composed of 9 steps working the reflexes in this order:

1. Spine as the gateway to the Central Nervous System.
2. Chest/Lung as the breast reflex was the primary location of the cancer.
3. Lungs on the plantar surface of the feet were worked because of the 3-dimensional nature of the body and some cancer sites are deep within the breast.
4. Diaphragm for the reduction of stress. The diaphragm is the first place we carry stress. Constriction of the diaphragm keeps one from breathing deeply, slowing circulation. Working the diaphragm reflex allows for deeper breathing, increased circulation to the lungs, and contributes to the overall effectiveness of the chemo traveling throughout the system, as well as facilitating a pathway for the release of chemicals after they have accomplished their desired effect.
5. Kidneys for stress and detoxification.
6. Adrenal glands for stress and detoxification.
7. Spleen, as a blood purifier, helps to raise blood cell count, and energy level.
8. Intestines both small and large colon for detoxification: The small intestine to absorb the treatment and large intestine to release the chemicals.
9. Lymphatic system—the upper and lower lymph reflexes for tissue drainage and immunity.

Ουσία 2η = εκεί που βρίσκεται η νεοπλασία ρεφλεξολογούν! δεν φοβούνται την περίπτωση μετάστασης!! (2. Chest/Lung as the breast reflex was the primary location of the cancer.)

Ουσία 3η = πήραν και άλλη επιχορήγηση για να εκπαιδεύσουν τους φροντιστές υγείας να το εξασκήσουν!                                          
NIH Awards a Second 5-Year (2011-2016) Grant for $2.65 million
This grant will use the same protocol to study the effects of the 9-steps reflexology protocol with primary caregivers delivering the sessions. The reflexologists who participated in the first grant are now training the primary caregivers to deliver the 9-steps.