title: Using reflexology for pain management. A review.
abstract: More than two thirds of Americans with chronic pain are now using complementary and alternative therapies. One complementary and alternative therapy, reflexology, has a long history and has been found useful on a case-by-case basis. This article provides a review of the literature on the use of reflexology as a therapy in pain management. Although reflexology is widely used, systematic research is needed to examine its effectiveness. To date, however, only a few studies have focused on reflexology's use in pain management. Because reflexology is a noninvasive, nonpharmacological therapy, nurses are in a position to do research on and make decisions about its clinical effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: East Carolina University, School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy L N
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: Jo Ann
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dalton
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D010146:Pain / Q000451:nursing; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000451:nursing; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States