Reflexology may benefit patients who are undergoing cardiovascular medical procedures, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
A team of researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving reflexology as a complementary therapy for cardiovascular patients undergoing procedures, to establish its effect on anxiety. Using leading medical databases the team found 10 studies that met their criteria, representing 760 patients with an average age of 59.
Their findings showed that reflexology significantly decreased the anxiety of patients, when compared to the control group. The team calls for further research in this area to ‘create reliable evidence’.
