Positive Health Online

Abstract

TOVEY, School of Healthcare Studies, University of Leeds, UK, p.a.tovey@ac.uk, carried out what he believed to be the first [published] study on the effectiveness of reflexology in managing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Background

Currently there are few, if any, effective conventional treatment options for IBS, which can become a chronic, and distressing, disorder. Many sufferers are turning increasingly to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including reflexology, to help alleviate symptoms. To date, despite the popularity of reflexology, no published research studies have examined its potential effectiveness in IBS. The author of this paper hoped to provide the first published evidence on the effectiveness of reflexology in managing the core defining symptoms of IBS .

Methodology

This single-blind study involved 34 patients diagnosed with IBS according to the Rome Criteria. They received either a reflexology foot massage or a non-reflexology foot massage (control group) and were monitored on the core defining symptoms of IBS (abdominal pain, constipation/diarrhoea and abdominal distension ).

Results

No statistically or clinically significant differences were found between the treatment and the control groups on any of the core symptoms monitored.

Conclusion

From this study, there was no evidence to indicate that reflexology resulted in any specific benefit for patients with IBS. However, this was a single, relatively small-scale study. Further research is needed. The author suggests that one area it might be useful to investigate is the impact of therapist (professional and lay) versus therapy .

References

Tovey P. A single-blind trial of reflexology for irritable bowel syndrome. The British Journal of General Practice 52 (474): 19-23. Jan 2002.

Comment

Readers are also referred to the article regarding clinical hypnotherapy for IBS.