This is a useful piece of research as it is relevant to clients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, but also to any other clients with pain and/ or sleep problems.
Objective
This study was intended to examine the effect of foot reflexology on RA patients’ pain and sleep quality.
Methods
This is a randomized controlled trial and was held at the “Rheumatology Follow-up Polyclinic” in Turkey between January–July 2015. A total of 60 patients were included in the research. A sociodemographic data form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used. Foot Reflexology was administered to the experimental group.
Results
The research found that the pain scores of the experimental group were statistically more significant than those of the control group (p < .01). The experimental group’s average pain was reduced by the six weeks of foot reflexology. The total PSQI score of the experimental group was lowered.
Conclusions
Foot reflexology is a non-pharmacological nursing intervention that may reduce the pain and sleep deprivation symptoms of RA patients. The research project showed that reflexology when compared to a control group, in Rheumatoid arthritis patients, statistically significantly helped with pain and also improved sleep quality.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice Volume 31, May 2018, Pages 315-319 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29705475/
