Eficacy of Reflexology in Treatment of Constipation: Clinical Evidence

 

In 2020, 9 databases were investigated in search of randomized clinical trials in the use of Reflexology to combat constipation. The Cochrane Institute Risk of Bias* assessment tools were applied to more than 650 articles.

The results obtained confirm that Reflexology is an effective natural and complementary therapy in the treatment of functional constipation, in people of all ages, children and the elderly.

* The ‘Risk of Bias’ is a tool developed by the “Cochrane Collaboration” to evaluate the methodology of scientific evidence, being useful in systematic reviews for the individual analysis of the included RCTs. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) present the highest level of experimental research according to the levels of evidence.

Reflexology on Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Zahra Anjoman Azari 2020 Shiraz e-medical Journal. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences https://sites.kowsarpub.com/semj/articles/100585.html 

Foot reflexology in the management of functional constipation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Huang Yaqi. NIH. PubMed. Gov 2020 Aug https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32891277/ 

Effect of Reflexology on the Constipation Status of Elderly People Bahar Inkaya Yonago Acta Med. 2020 May https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7231874/ 

Reflexology in the management of encopresis and chronic constipation Eileen Bishop Nursing Children and Young People RCNi Plus 2003 https://journals.rcni.com/doi/abs/10.7748/paed2003.04.15.3.20.c843