The Effects of Foot Reflexology on Vital Signs: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Introduction. We evaluated the effects of foot reflexology on bodily vital signs. Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of foot reflexology on vital signs were collected for a meta-analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted using RevMan5.4 software and pooled estimates of the effects were reported as mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results. Thirteen studies, including 819 patients, met our inclusion criteria. Our results showed that systolic blood pressure (SBP) (MD = -4.62, 95% CI: -5.58 to -3.66; <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"> <a:mi>P</a:mi> <a:mo><</a:mo> <a:mn>0.00001</a:mn> </a:math> ), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (MD = -3.32, 95% CI: -4.48 to -2.17; <c:math xmlns:c="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"> <c:mi>P</c:mi> <c:mo><</c:mo> <c:mn>0.00001</c:mn> </c:math> ), heart rate (HR) (MD = -4.76, 95% CI: -6.49 to -3.04; <e:math xmlns:e="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"> <e:mi>P</e:mi> <e:mo><</e:mo> <e:mn>0.00001</e:mn> </e:math> ), respiratory rate (RR) (MD = -0.77, 95% CI: -1.50 to -0.48; <g:math xmlns:g="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M4"> <g:mi>P</g:mi> <g:mo><</g:mo> <g:mn>0.00001</g:mn> </g:math> ), and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) (MD = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.39 to 1.52; <i:math xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M5"> <i:mi>P</i:mi> <i:mo>=</i:mo> <i:mn>0.0009</i:mn> </i:math> ) showed statistical significance in the foot reflexology group. Conclusions. Short-term followup results showed that foot reflexology exerted positive effects on vital signs, reduced BP, HR, and RR and increased SpO2.