Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 1997; 2: 196
We evaluated the effect of reflexology on symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial.
Seventy-one patients were randomized to either study or control group, to receive 11 week treatment. Reflexology treatment included manual pressure on specific points in the feet and massage of the calf area. The control group received non-specific massage of the calf area. The intensity of paraesthesias, urinary symptoms, muscle strength and spasticity were assessed before and after the treatment period in a masked fashion.
Fifty-three patients (27 patients in reflexology group and 26 controls) completed this study. Significant improvement in mean scores of paraesthesias (p=0.002), urinary symptoms (p=0.008), muscle strength (p=0.000) and spasticity (p=0.044) were detected in the reflexology group, while no significant improvement in any of the above symptoms could be demonstrated in the control group.
Our data suggest that specific reflexology treatment may be beneficial in alleviating motor, sensory and urinary symptoms in MS.
