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R
E S E A R C H
Reflexology
Relieves Symptoms of MS
Reflexology significantly
improved paresthesia, urinary symptoms and spasticity in people
with multiple sclerosis, according to recent research.
"Reflexology
treatment relieves symptoms of multiple sclerosis: a randomized
controlled study" was conducted by staff at the Department
of Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Complementary Medicine Clinic and
the Multiple Sclerosis Center at Sheba Medical Center in Tel-Hashomer,
Israel; and the Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy
Research.
Seventy-one
people with multiple sclerosis were randomly assigned to receive
either reflexology or control treatment for 45 minutes once a week,
for 11 weeks. Fifty-three of the subjects completed the study. Thirty-six
reflexologists participated in the study, each treating one reflexology
and one control subject.
The
reflexology sessions consisted of manual pressure on specific points
of the feet and massage of the calf area. The control sessions consisted
of nonspecific massage of the calf area, a sham treatment to control
for the effects of touch and relaxation.
Outcome measures were the mean intensity
of paresthesias (sensory deficits), evaluated by the Visual Analogue
Scale; urinary symptoms, evaluated by the American Urological Association
symptom score; sum muscle strength of the iliopsoas, quadriceps, hamstrings
and adductor muscles, each evaluated by the British Medical Research
Council scale; and spasticity, evaluated by the Ashworth scale.
A masked
assessment was performed before the study period; at the start of
the study period; six weeks into the study; at the end of 11 weeks;
and three months after the study period ended.
The
reflexology group showed significant improvements at the end of
the study period for scores of paresthesias, urinary symptoms and
spasticity. Muscle strength scores for the reflexology group showed
borderline improvement. The improvement in the intensity of paresthesia
remained significant at the three-month follow-up.
Subjects
in the control group showed no significant improvements on any of
the outcome measures.
"It
is of interest to note such positive effects of single intervention
on a broad range of symptoms," state the study’s authors.
"Further clinical and laboratory studies are needed to validate
these results and to understand the mechanisms by which reflexology
improves symptoms secondary to [multiple sclerosis]."
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Source: Department of
Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Complementary Medicine Clinic, Multiple
Sclerosis Center at Sheba Medical Center in Tel-Hashomer, Israel;
and Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research.
Authors: I. Siev-Ner; D. Gamus; L. Lerner-Geva; and A. Achiron.
Originally published in Multiple
Sclerosis, 2003, Vol. 9, pp. 356-361.
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