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. 2022 Sep 13:2022:4182420.
doi: 10.1155/2022/4182420. eCollection 2022.

The Effects of Foot Reflexology on Vital Signs: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Yunyan Jing  1 , Shanxin Liu  2 , Chunqi Pan  2 , Ying Jian  2 , Mingwei Wang  2 , Bin Ni  2
Affiliations

The Effects of Foot Reflexology on Vital Signs: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Yunyan Jing et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. .

Abstract

Introduction: We evaluated the effects of foot reflexology on bodily vital signs.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of foot reflexology on vital signs were collected for a meta-analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted using RevMan5.4 software and pooled estimates of the effects were reported as mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Thirteen studies, including 819 patients, met our inclusion criteria. Our results showed that systolic blood pressure (SBP) (MD = -4.62, 95% CI: -5.58 to -3.66; P < 0.00001), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (MD = -3.32, 95% CI: -4.48 to -2.17; P < 0.00001), heart rate (HR) (MD = -4.76, 95% CI: -6.49 to -3.04; P < 0.00001), respiratory rate (RR) (MD = -0.77, 95% CI: -1.50 to -0.48; P < 0.00001), and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) (MD = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.39 to 1.52; P = 0.0009) showed statistical significance in the foot reflexology group.

Conclusions: Short-term followup results showed that foot reflexology exerted positive effects on vital signs, reduced BP, HR, and RR and increased SpO2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram showing literature searches and study selection for analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias graph and a summary of selected studies using the risk of bias assessment tool for randomized studies (RoBARs) tool. (a) RoBARs graph; (b) RoBARs summary.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot showing foot reflexology therapy effects on blood pressure.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot showing foot reflexology therapy effects on heart rate; data pooled from 12 RCTs.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Forest plot showing foot reflexology therapy effects on oxygen saturation; data pooled from six RCTs.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Forest plot showing foot reflexology therapy effects on respiratory rate; data pooled from seven RCTs.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Scatter funnel plot of risk ratios on the X-axis against the standard error of log risk ratio on the Y-axis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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