Foot reflex zone massage: glimmer of hope for MS patients

Foot reflex zone massage: glimmer of hope for MS patients

foot reflex zone massage, complementary therapy, in which pressure on specific dots on the feet is exerted, is considered helpful in many health complaints. One of the groups that could benefit from this practice are people with multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, which leads to a variety of symptoms, including tiring fatigue, malaise, sleep problems, anxiety and a generally reduced quality of life. A current study, published in 2024, has set itself the goal of systematically examining the effects of the foot reflex zone massage on patients with MS.

The researchers searched numerous databases based on studies that were published from the beginning of 2000 to early 2022, and focused on randomized controlled studies that evaluated the effect of foot reflex zone massages at MS. Among the 154 identified studies, 9 fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the review. These studies included a total of 545 MS patients.

The results of this review indicate that foot reflex zone massage can lead to a reduction in tiredness, pain, muscle cramps, stiffness and psychological symptoms in MS patients. In addition, there were improvements in terms of intestinal and bladder functions as well as the general quality of life. Research suggests that foot reflex zone massage could be a safe and effective method in order to relieve both physical and psychological symptoms and improve the quality of life of MS patients. However, it is emphasized that well -designed, large -scale clinical studies are required to confirm the results.

The potential benefit of the foot reflex zone massage could change or complement some of the current practices and treatments for MS. It could be considered as a supportive treatment that relieves symptoms and improves the general quality of life, especially for patients who are looking for alternatives or additional therapies.

basic terms and concepts:

• multiple sclerosis (MS): A chronic disease of the central nervous system that leads to a variety of physical and psychological symptoms.
• foot reflex zone massage: a complementary therapy in which specific points are massaged on the feet that are connected to different parts of the body and organs.
• randomized controlled study: a study type in which participants randomly assigned one of two or more groups to compare different treatments or interventions.
• Systematic review: A research method in which systematic searches for studies on a specific topic are searched with the aim of creating a comprehensive analysis of the existing scientific evidence on this topic.

Effect of the foot reflex zone massage for multiple sclerosis

The present systematic review examines the effects of the foot reflex zone massage in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that is often associated with symptoms such as exhaustion, discomfort, sleep problems, anxiety and a reduced quality of life. Earlier studies have pointed out that foot reflex zone massage can alleviate this accompanying symptoms. The aim of this review was to systematically examine and summarize existing evidence.

methodology

A systematic literature search in databases such as Pubmed, Embase and the Cochrane Library was carried out. Studies were taken into account between January 1, 2000 and January 27, 2022. Included were randomized, controlled studies that used foot reflex zone massage as an intervention at MS and reported on clinical or psychological symptoms. The quality assessment of the evidence took place with the help of the Cochrane-Bias evaluation tool. The literary view and selection of potentially relevant articles were carried out regardless of two authors, while a third author checked the exclusion. Discreps up in the selection process were solved by discussion among all four testing authors.

results

A total of 154 studies were identified, of which 9 studies with a total of 545 MS patients were included in the review. The most frequently reported results after interventions by foot reflex zone massage in MS patients included the reduction of exhaustion, pain, muscle cramps, stiffness and psychological symptoms as well as improvements in the functions of bubble and intestine and quality of life.

conclusions

The check carried out suggests that foot reflex zone massage could be a safe and effective way to reduce the physical and psychological symptoms of MS patients and to improve the quality of life. However, it is emphasized that well -designed, large -scale studies are required to confirm these results.

You can view further details of the study and its methodological approach at the following link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38482512 .