The acute (immediate) effects of reflexology on arterial compliance in healthy volunteers: A randomised study

• Reflexology is widely used by health people and patients.
• The cardiovascular effects of reflexology are not well known.
• A brief reflexology treatment resulted in no significant change in haemodynamic parameters.
• Further research needed to determine if effects on the cardiovascular system seen with longer reflexology treatment periods.

BackgroundReflexology is a widely used complementary therapy. The effects of reflexology on the cardiovascular system are not well characterised. Arterial stiffness (compliance) is a marker of vascular health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of reflexology on arterial compliance in healthy volunteers.Methods12 healthy volunteers (1 male; 11 female; mean age 44.8 ± 10.8 yrs) received 10 min of reflexology on each foot in a single-blind randomised study. The main outcome measures were measurements of cardiovascular parameters including heart rate, blood pressure and arterial compliance (augmentation index).ResultsReflexology had no significant effect on heart rate, blood pressure or augmentation index (all p > 0.05).ConclusionsIn healthy volunteers, there were no consistent changes in haemodynamic parameters with a single brief reflexology treatment. Thus from a cardiovascular point of view, reflexology (as delivered) would appear to have a limited (if any) effect on the cardiovascular system.