The effectiveness of foot reflexology in inducing ovulation: a sham-controlled randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether foot reflexology, a complementary therapy, has an effect greater than sham reflexology on induction of ovulation.


METHODS
Sham-controlled randomized trial with patients and statistician blinded.


METHODS
Infertility clinic in Plymouth, United Kingdom.


METHODS
Forty-eight women attending the clinic with anovulation.


METHODS
Women were randomized to receive eight sessions of either genuine foot reflexology or sham reflexology with gentle massage over 10 weeks.


METHODS
The primary outcome was ovulation detected by serum progesterone level of >30 nmol/L during the study period.


RESULTS
Twenty-six patients were randomized to genuine reflexology and 22 to sham (one randomized patient was withdrawn). Patients remained blinded throughout the trial. The rate of ovulation during true reflexology was 11 out of 26 (42%), and during sham reflexology it was 10 out of 22 (46%). Pregnancy rates were 4 out of 26 in the true group and 2 out of 22 in the control group. Because of recruitment difficulties, the required sample size of 104 women was not achieved.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient blinding of reflexology studies is feasible. Although this study was too small to reach a definitive conclusion on the specific effect of foot reflexology, the results suggest that any effect on ovulation would not be clinically relevant. Sham reflexology may have a beneficial general effect, which this study was not designed to detect.
Holt
Jane
J
South Devon School of Reflexology, Morningside, Loddiswell, Devon, United Kingdom.
Lord
Jonathan
J
Acharya
Umesh
U
White
Adrian
A
O'Neill
Nyree
N
Shaw
Steve
S
Barton
Andy
A
D000858:Anovulation / Q000628:therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012028:Reflexotherapy / Q000379:methods*
D015415:Biomarkers; D011374:Progesterone