Foot reflexology reduces fatigue in hemodialysis patients

Patients who need hemodialysis often sleep poorly and suffer from fatigue. Data from a study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice has revealed that foot reflexology may help ease fatigue in hemodialysis patients.

• For the study, researchers compared the effectiveness of foot reflexology and back massage on improving the sleep quality and minimizing fatigue among hemodialysis patients.
• The researchers observed 105 volunteers who were registered at a private dialysis clinic. All the patients were receiving hemodialysis treatment.
• For the study, the patients underwent foot reflexology and back massage sessions two times a week for four weeks.
• The research team used the Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index to gather data for the study.
• The scientists observed “statistically significant” differences between the pretest and posttest score averages of the patients on the Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index.

The research team concluded that while foot reflexology and back massage both helped improve the sleep quality and reduce the fatigue of hemodialysis patients, based on the study findings the former was more effective than the latter.

You can read more articles about the benefits of natural remedies like foot reflexology at Healing.news.

Journal Reference: 

Unal KS, Akpinar RB. THE EFFECT OF FOOT REFLEXOLOGY AND BACK MASSAGE ON HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS FATIGUE AND SLEEP QUALITY. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2016;24:139–144. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.06.004