Effect of Foot Reflexology on Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Condition: Reflexology, Hypertension, Acupressure, Traditional Medicine
MeSH terms: Hypertension
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Hypertension (HT) has been known for its prominent risk of cardiovascular events. Although
      there are various pharmacological choices, many patients fail to adhere with them. Therefore,
      adjunctive non-pharmacological treatment is a promising approach. Foot Reflexology is one of
      a complementary therapies that has been proved for its ability to decrease blood pressure
      (BP), however, there is limited data in patients with stage-2 HT. We aimed to examine the
      effectiveness of foot reflexology as adjunctive therapy for BP lowering. This was a
      single-center randomized clinical trial. Hypertensive patients who were regularly followed up
      at the hypertension clinic were enrolled and randomized into the intervention group (n=47)
      and control group (n=47). Foot reflexology was performed in the intervention group during a
      clinical visit. Office BP and pulse rate (PR) were measured before and immediately at 15
      minutes (min) and 30 min after the procedure in the intervention group and after resting in
      the control group.
    

Detailed description: 
      Background Hypertension (HT) has been known for its prominent risk of cardiovascular events.
      Although there are various pharmacological choices, many patients fail to adhere to them.
      Therefore, adjunctive non-pharmacological treatment is a promising approach. Foot Reflexology
      is one of the complementary therapies that has been proved for its ability to decrease blood
      pressure (BP), however, there is limited data in patients with stage-2 HT.

      Objective To examine the effectiveness of foot reflexology as adjunctive therapy for BP
      lowering.

      Methods This was a single-center randomized clinical trial. Hypertensive patients who were
      regularly followed up at the hypertension clinic were enrolled and randomized into the
      intervention group (n=47) and control group (n=47). Foot reflexology was performed in the
      intervention group during a clinical visit. Office BP and pulse rate (PR) were measured
      before and immediately at 15 minutes (min) and 30 min after the procedure in the intervention
      group and after resting in the control group.
    

Intervention name(s): foot reflexology
Intervention type(s): Procedure
Intervention description(s): Acupressure was applied at the plantar side of the right foot at the first metatarsal bone, around 1-1.5 centimeters proximal to the first metatarsophalangeal joint. (Figure 2) Approximately 3-kilogram pressure was applied by using a knuckle of the right index finger (dorsal part of the proximal interphalangeal joint in flexing position) in a perpendicular manner and held for 15 seconds (sec) then released for 5 sec. This hold-release cycle was done 5 times over the course of 2 min. This method was recommended by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine in accordance with the Zone theory and the Meridian theory.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: a single-center randomized clinical trial
Masking: Single (Investigator)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: hypertension; reflexology; acupressure; traditional medicine