Reflexology (Foot Reflex Massage) and Its Impact on the Health of Children and Adolescents: A Review Article

Introduction: Reflexology, also known as foot reflex massage, is a branch of complementary medicine and represents an ancient, non-invasive therapeutic method involving the massage of reflex points located on the hands and feet. Reflexology is based on the principle that the feet and hands reflect a complete map of the body’s organs and systems, with the arrangement of body parts mirrored in the structure of the feet. Some scholars believe that reflexology, when used alongside conventional medical treatments, can be beneficial. Its mechanism is partly comparable to acupuncture and acupressure, which rely on energy channels throughout the body. By applying pressure to specific reflex points on the feet—and occasionally on the hands—practitioners aim to restore balance and release blocked energy pathways, resulting in relaxation and improvement of physiological parameters. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across scientific databases and search engines including Direct Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline. Keywords used included “reflexology,” “foot reflex massage,” “children,” and “adolescents,” in both Persian and English. Combined keyword searches were also performed, and studies published between ۲۰۱۳ and ۲۰۲۴ were included. Results: The search initially identified ۸۵ articles, of which ۱۸ were selected for final review based on methodological rigor, variables, and tools. Reflexology is founded on the assumption that reflex zones in the hands and feet correspond to all glands, organs, and body systems, and that stimulation of these zones can activate internal organs. Studies on reflexology have been conducted across diverse populations with various clinical conditions, yielding mixed and sometimes contradictory results. Target groups have included women, pregnant mothers, labor processes, elderly individuals with chronic diseases, as well as children, neonates, and adolescents. Discussion and Conclusion: Across different studies, voluntary responses to reflexology’s calming effects have been observed in the endocrine, immune, and neuropeptide systems. Reflexology has been employed as a complementary therapy to reduce stress and tension, improve blood circulation, and enhance bodily balance. In certain cases, reflexology has demonstrated benefits in alleviating stress and tension associated with physical disorders. Positive outcomes reported in multiple studies include improved postoperative recovery, relief of constipation and fecal incontinence, reduction of spasticity and improved function in children with cerebral palsy, alleviation of clinical symptoms in pediatric and adolescent cancer patients, reduction of pain and fatigue, improvement of vital signs and anxiety during drug or blood product administration, as well as benefits in migraine, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and sleep disturbances.

کلیدواژه ها:

Reflexology ، Foot reflex massage ، Children ، Adolescents