When is a foot rub more than a foot rub? When it’s reflexology, an ancient form of body work gaining in popularity as consumers continue to explore complementary therapies.
Evidence supporting the value of reflexology is anecdotal, but the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health has funded a two-year study on whether reflexology can relieve pain in people with cancer.
Dr. Rick Lehman, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon in St. Louis, said he is impressed with some uses of reflexology.
“I do a lot of work with Olympic athletes, and they use practitioners who practice reflexology and other pressure-point therapy,” he said. “What I’ve seen of it has been very positive — I’ve had athletes get better from it. A lot of these therapies get a bad rap because doctors who don’t understand the treatments say they are bad. I may not understand reflexology or know how to do it, but I’ve seen it work when used for soft-tissue problems.”
Lehman added the treatment would not be appropriate for a number of illnesses, such as diabetes and liver cancer.
Dr. Jeffrey Brooks, a board-certified podiatrist, took a more cautious approach, saying he gives reflexology “mixed reviews.” Brooks addressed the philosophy of the therapy, which is that pressure applied to the feet is said to stimulate other parts of the body, which may lead to restoration of the body’s natural equilibrium.
“A lot of the nerves through the skeletal system do go through the foot, and certainly the lower-back area has branches of nerves that affect the foot,” he said. He then listed some specific nerves that end in the foot, noted he doubted that reflexology would be helpful for a number of complaints, then added, “Still, rubbing of all those areas does feel good — I love massage myself.”
The American Medical Association places reflexology in the category with alternative therapies such as acupressure, acupuncture and massage therapy, according to spokeswoman Lori Bolas. As such, she said, the AMA says more research is necessary to validate the therapy’s effectiveness. It also cautions doctors to educate themselves on alternative therapies and cautions patients not to stop conventional therapy.
Certified reflexologists, about 25,000 of whom are registered worldwide through the International Institute of Reflexology, are quick to point out that the practice is a complementary therapy, not intended as a replacement for medical attention. Also, reflexology is not a diagnostic tool and does not claim to cure anyone.
A runner’s story
Some people seek reflexology treatments as a way to relax the mind and body. Others have treatments in the hope of relieving a variety of acute and chronic conditions. Miguel Cotignola, 33, credits reflexology with allowing him to participate in marathons in spite of running on a leg with a pin in it.
“I broke my leg in college while playing soccer,” said Cotignola, who works as a network engineer. “I had two pins in it for a long time, but now there is just one. I had tried deep massage therapy for my leg, and that made it feel better, but it didn’t help me run. A friend recommended reflexology.”
While in training for the Chicago Marathon in October, Cotignola ran up to 40 miles a week. “My leg muscles were really tight,” he said. After he started reflexology treatments about five months ago, his leg got a lot better.
Paula Stone, a certified reflexologist, is so proud of Cotignola, who is one of her clients, that she can recite his finishing time at the recent marathon — 3 hours, 53 minutes and 49 seconds.
“My goal is to balance and normalize the body,” she said. “In reality, I don’t do anything to you. If I use the reflexology techniques correctly, the body will normalize and balance itself.”
Pain relief
Sharon Turney also finds reflexology treatments relaxing. Turney, 58, is a water aerobics instructor who has had three screws in one toe since foot surgery about a year ago.
“Reflexology makes my toe more flexible,” said Turney. “It also helps gets the knots out of my body and relaxes me.”
She said the treatment doesn’t hurt “unless the practitioner hits a sore spot, and then they have to work it out.” Turney added, “Paula Stone found spots on my feet to get pain out of my lower back.”
Sister Kate Filla, who helps administer a support services program for her order, has had a part-time practice in St. Louis for about 18 years.
“Reflexology is a wonderful tool to stimulate the body’s self-healing properties, because it is based on the physiology of the foot, which is a microcosm for the whole body,” said Sister Filla, who earned her certification in 1993.
She produced a photograph of a drawing from a wall in the Physicians’ Tomb at Saqqara in Egypt that dates to about 2330 B.C. One frame of the drawing shows a person rubbing another person’s foot; in the next frame, a person is rubbing another’s hand.
There is no one “right” number of treatments for any particular complaint, Sister Filla said. “It depends on the situation. I have seen immediate results; a man I know who had pain around his heart got relief after one treatment. He was so impressed that he became a reflexologist.”
What to expect
At your first appointment, the reflexology practitioner will ask you about your medical history and any specific complaints, then briefly discuss your lifestyle.
Next, you will remove your shoes and socks and sit in a reclining chair or lie on a massage table. The practitioner then will rub, pull and twist every part of your feet, toes included.
Though reflexology is not intended as a replacement for medical attention and it is not a diagnostic tool or a cure for any ailment, reflexologists say the treatments may be beneficial for the following conditions:
• Back pain
• Migraines
• Infertility
• Arthritis
• Sleep disorders
• Hormonal imbalances
• Sports injuries
• Digestive disorders
• Stress-related conditions
Generally, clients having a treatment stretch out and lean back in a recliner or on a massage table while the practitioner works magic.
During the treatment, you may feel completely relaxed or you may experience temporary discomfort as the practitioner works on a sore spot. At the end of the session, you likely will note that your feet feel more natural and more flexible than when you first arrived.
Treatments typically last 30 to 50 minutes and cost about $1 a minute. How long is a treatment?
“This sounds funny, but it’s true,” said Paula Stone, a St. Louis-area reflexologist. “It all depends on the size of your feet.”
