title: A pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigating the effectiveness of reflexology for managing pregnancy low back and/or pelvic pain.
abstract: Many pregnant women with low back and/or pelvic pain (LBPP) use pain medications to manage this pain, much of which is self-prescribed and potentially harmful. Therefore, there is a need to find effective nonpharmacological treatments for the condition. Reflexology has previously been shown to help nonspecific low back pain. Therefore; a pilot RCT was conducted investigating reflexology in the management of pregnancy-LBPP. 90 primiparous women were randomised to either usual care, a reflexology or footbath intervention. Primary outcome measures were; the Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). 64 women completed the RCT; retention rates for the reflexology group were 80%, usual care group 83.33% and footbath group 50%. The reflexology group demonstrated a Clinically Important Change (CIC) in pain frequency (1.64 cm). Results indicate it is feasible to conduct an RCT in this area, although a footbath is an unsuitable sham treatment. Reflexology may help manage pregnancy-LBPP; however a fully powered trial is needed to confirm this.
authors.affiliation: Maternal, Fetal and Infant Research Centre, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Shore Road, Belfast BT 37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: oprey-c5@email.ulster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ciara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Close
authors.affiliation: Maternal, Fetal and Infant Research Centre, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Shore Road, Belfast BT 37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: m.sinclair1@ulster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Shore Road, Belfast BT 37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: mccullough-J9@email.ulster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Julie Mc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cullough
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Shore Road, Belfast BT 37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: sd.liddle@ulster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liddle
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Shore Road, Belfast BT 37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: cm.hughes@ulster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ciara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008405:Massage; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Low back pain; Pelvic pain; Pregnancy; Randomised controlled trial; Reflexology