Is there any kind of rationale behind reflexology?

[DrS]

I'm currently getting what sounds like a load of twaddle about reflexology, but don't have any sort of ammunition. I'm aware of the basic ideas, which I have never credited, that the body is supposedly mapped out on the foot, and that practitioners can identify (do they claim to heal?) where their patient has a problem from close handling and massage of the foot.

What I'm hearing now, however, is about reflexology in pregnancy, labour and childbirth. Specifically that there are three points on the feet that have to be avoided in reflexology sessions during pregnancy because they cause spontaneous abortion. On the contrary, naturally, they are the points to work on during a delayed birth or to induce labour.

I found it incredible before. Now it sounds even more outlandish, and possibly even dangerous. Is there any sort of rationale behind these ideas at all?

[lost thought]

Tickle my feet and I will laugh and squirm then kick you, It's ok its only a reflex.

[Lord Muck oGentry]

Haven't a clue about this stuff, and I'm not sure I want to acquire one. However, I found this:
http://www.babyworld.co.uk/informati...exology.asp#is

However, some reflexologists will not treat a pregnant woman during the first trimester. The Association of Reflexologists (AOR) says that this is due to a misplaced patient fear that reflexology may cause a miscarriage.

It's good to know that the fear is misplaced. Otherwise we should have to advise pregnant women to wear thick-soled shoes and avoid walking on cobblestones.

[polomint38]

A foot massage is nice and relaxing, but that's as far as it goes.

I do offer cheap foot massages to all UKS users except polomint38 (I've seen those feet and do not wish to touch them) for a cheap £60 per session.

[bindeweede]

One reason foot massage may be so pleasurable and is associated with significant improvement in mood is that the area of the brain that connects to the foot is adjacent to the area that connects to the genitals. There may be some neuronal overlapping. Neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran writes of a person whose leg was amputated and who experienced orgasms in his phantom foot (1998: 36-37). “The genitals are right next to the foot in the body’s brain maps,” he notes, and speculates that this fact may account for foot fetishes.

Not really what DrS was referring to, so sorry for the digression.

http://skepdic.com/reflex.html

[DrS]

Not really what DrS was referring to, so sorry for the digression.

Interesting nonetheless!

The genitals are right next to the foot in the body’s brain maps

Not the most accurate map then ...

[bindeweede]

Interesting nonetheless!
Not the most accurate map then ...

DrS

Pure coincidence, but I am reading the book I think was referred to in the Skepdic article - "Phantoms in the Brain". I have almost finished it, and fascinating it is - how the brain can be tricked into things - weird perceptions - wouldn't even try to condense. The book was on a list recommended by DrB.

Sorry, I am digressing.

[Floppit]

DrS

Pure coincidence, but I am reading the book I think was referred to in the Skepdic article - "Phantoms in the Brain". I have almost finished it, and fascinating it is - how the brain can be tricked into things - weird perceptions - wouldn't even try to condense. The book was on a list recommended by DrB.

Sorry, I am digressing.

I loved that book!

When I was pregnant I read that you shouldn't massage the bit of skin inbetween your thumb and hand (the webby bit - not THAT webby, I'm not a duck!), it was supposed to bring on labour. They also said to avoid reflexology. It was in the book 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' which was sold as written by doctors etc - god, it was cr@p. A friend gave me 'What to Expect in the First Year' which I actually put in the bin rather than gave to the charity shop because I thought it was so bloody awful I didn't want to play a part in anyone else reading it.

I could be accused of contempt prior to investigation though because I've never bothered to look up whether there was any evidence.

Just to letting you know I think it's quite a common belief.

[Pebble]

Perhaps a tiny bit embarrassing this, given where it was publsihed:


Complement Ther Med. 2000 Sep;8(3):166-72. Links
Comment in:
Complement Ther Med. 2000 Sep;8(3):149.
A blinded investigation into the accuracy of reflexology charts.

White AR, Williamson J, Hart A, Ernst E.
Department of Complementary Medicine, School of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Studies, University of Exeter, UK. a.r.white@exeter.ac.uk
OBJECTIVES: Reflexology is an increasingly popular complementary therapy in which parts of the body are deemed to be represented on the soles of the feet. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this representation can be used as a valid method of diagnosis. METHODS: Three experienced reflexologists took part in this study. Eighteen adults with one or more of six specified conditions were identified from primary care records. Two reflexologists, who were blinded to the patients' conditions and monitored, then examined each patient's feet and rated the probability that each of the six conditions was present. RESULTS: There is little evidence that the distribution of ratings vary with the status of the condition. Receiver operating curves suggest that this diagnostic method is very poor at distinguishing between the presence and absence of conditions. Inter-rater reliability (kappa) scores were very low, providing no evidence of agreement between the examiners. CONCLUSION: Despite certain limitations to the data provided by this study, the results do not suggest that reflexology techniques are a valid method of diagnosis. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

Since then most publications are to say the least on soft targets:

[Effect of acupuncture combined with massage of sole on sleeping quality of the patient with insomnia]
Zhong ZG, Cai H, Li XL, Lü D.
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2008 Jun;28(6):411-3. Chinese.

The effects of foot and facial massage on sleep induction, blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rate: crossover pilot study.
Ejindu A.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2007 Nov;13(4):266-75. Epub 2007 May 8.

Partner-delivered reflexology: effects on cancer pain and anxiety.
Stephenson NL, Swanson M, Dalton J, Keefe FJ, Engelke M.
Oncol Nurs Forum. 2007 Jan;34(1):127-32.

etc.

[DrS]

Thanks Pebble. As I suspected, I must say. Embarrassing indeed!

[chaggle]

Sorry, all. Just me being fick I expect. What is embarrassing?

[DrS]

I took it as the fact that it was research carried out by a Complementary Medicine Dept for publication in Complement Ther Med. Presumably better results were hoped for?

[chaggle]

I took it as the fact that it was research carried out by a Complementary Medicine Dept for publication in Complement Ther Med. Presumably better results were hoped for?

OK. I don't know what Complement Ther Med. is - they might well have been embarassed but...

White AR, Williamson J, Hart A, Ernst E.
Department of Complementary Medicine, School of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Studies, University of Exeter, UK

I don't think Edzard Ernst would have been embarassed at all

[DrS]

I don't think Edzard Ernst would have been embarassed at all

Thankyou for that! Great ammunition.

[JJM]

Have you seen the episode of "Thin Blue Line" in which the ever-suffering sergeant (Whatshername) takes a reflexology class and shows the chart to Chief Inspector Fowler? He studies it and remarks that it does not indicate what to do if the problem is actually in his foot.