Foot reflexology in autoimmune diseases: Effectiveness and mechanisms

Table 1 Studies on foot reflexology and autoimmune diseases

Ref.	Study design, N, country	Disease, age, sex	Disease duration	Comparator, reflexology sessions, outcome
Otter et al[18]	Open prospective, 30, United Kingdom	RA, 59.8 years, 100% F	18.8 years	Foot reflexology vs foot massage, 45 minutes weekly for 6 weeks, improved fatigue, sleep and foot pain
Bakir et al[17]	Randomized controlled trial, 60, Turkey	RA, 50.16 ± 14.32 (22-74 year), 76.6% F	12.25 ± 7.65 years	Usual RA therapy + reflexology vs control (usual RA therapy and no reflexology), 30 minutes weekly for 6 weeks, Improved pain and sleep
Deenadayalan et al[19]	Systematic review, 545 (9 articles), India	MS, 4/9-100% F, 5/9-M/F	ND	Reflexology vs Control group in 8/9 studies, 30-60 minutes weekly for 4-11 weeks, reductions in pain, fatigue, muscle spasm, stiffness, psychological symptoms, Improvement in quality of lifer, bowel and bladder functions
Lee et al[11]	Case report, 7, China	SHL, 3 months, girl	Since birth	Reflexology (n = 1) vs No reflexology (n = 6), 30 minutes weekly for 24 weeks, hearing threshold recovered to a normal level. The girl can speak

RA: Rheumatoid arthritis; MS: Multiple sclerosis; SHL: Sensorineural hearing loss; F: Female; M: Male.