Functional Intestinal Disorders (FID) are common conditions affecting 10 to 15% of the global population. Reflexology is used to treat the associated symptoms, as it appears to relieve them and improve quality of life. This study, approved by the French Ministry of Health and the Committee for the Protection of Persons (CPP), therefore aims to evaluate and quantify the benefits of foot reflexology.
Objective: This study benefits assessment of foot reflexology: primary outcome measure = Francis score (with its four sub-scores); secondary outcome measure = quality of life; five associated symptoms not included in the Francis score.
Materials and Methods: Multi-center trial involving fifty-one participants over a 10-week period. A foot reflexology session administered every two weeks at each check-up visit on days 0, 14, 28, 42, and 56. No reflexology performed during the final session on day 70 (simple check-up). No control group.
Results: The Statistical analyses conducted by SOLADIS using SAS software seemed to show a significant improvement (p-value < 0.001) of more than 50% in the Francis score and its four sub-scores. For the five symptoms not included in the Francis score, a reduction in their frequency of more than 50% was observed.
Discussion: The data suggest that foot reflexology has an interesting effect, as they support the idea that it may reduce the symptoms of FID. However, these first results, without the support of a control group, need to be confirmed by complementary studies.
Conclusion: At the conclusion of the clinical trial, functional intestinal disorders seemed to show a significant improvement. It should be noted, however, that at this stage, in the absence of a control group, these results are merely indicative and should be confirmed by complementary studies.
Reflexology, Functional Intestinal Disorders, Francis scores, Prevention, Stress, Well-being.