Ancient foot massage relieves cancer symptoms

ANI Nov 14, 2012, 05.00PM IST

Reflexology - a type of specialized foot massage practiced since the age of pharaohs - can help cancer patients manage their symptoms and perform daily tasks, a new study led by a Michigan State University researcher has suggested.The study is the first large-scale, randomized study of reflexology as a complement to standard cancer treatment, according to lead author Gwen Wyatt, a professor in the College of Nursing.

"It's always been assumed that it's a nice comfort measure, but to this point we really have not, in a rigorous way, documented the benefits. This is the first step toward moving a complementary therapy from fringe care to mainstream care," Wyatt said.

Reflexology, which is widely practiced in many parts of the world, is based on the idea that stimulating specific points on the feet can improve the functioning of corresponding organs, glands and other parts of the body.

"Reflexology comes out of the Chinese tradition and out of Egypt. In fact, it's shown in hieroglyphics. It's been around for a very long time," Wyatt said.

The study involved 385 women undergoing chemotherapy or hormonal therapy for advanced-stage breast cancer that had spread beyond the breast. The women were assigned randomly to three groups: Some received treatment by a certified reflexologist, others got a foot massage meant to act like a placebo, and the rest had only standard medical treatment and no foot manipulation.

Wyatt and colleagues surveyed participants about their symptoms at intake and then checked in with them after five weeks and 11 weeks.

They found that those in the reflexology group experienced significantly less shortness of breath, a common symptom in breast cancer patients. Perhaps as a result of their improved breathing, they also were better able to perform daily tasks such as climbing a flight of stairs, getting dressed or going grocery shopping.

Wyatt said she was surprised to find that reflexology's effects appeared to be primarily physical, not psychological.

"We didn't get the change we might have expected with the emotional symptoms like anxiety and depression. The most significant changes were documented with the physical symptoms," she said.

Also unexpected was the reduced fatigue reported by those who received the "placebo" foot massage, particularly since the reflexology group did not show similarly significant improvement.

Wyatt is now researching whether massage similar to reflexology performed by cancer patients' friends and family, as opposed to certified reflexologists, might be a simple and inexpensive treatment option.

The study was published in the latest issue of Oncology Nursing Forum.

Coment

This article was published in The Times of India newspaper on 14^th November 2012. It’s about a “type of specialized foot massage” that exists since a long time, but now it serves as “a complement to standard cancer treatment” very useful to people in the day to day.

Reflexology is an alternative medicine involving the physical act of applying pressure to the feet, hands, or ears with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on what reflexologists claim to be a system of zones and reflex areas that they say reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands, with the premise that such work effects a physical change to the body.

In this article tell us only about feet massages and his property to get find the feet’s key points where the rubdown causes a placebo effect. Also, recent studies show that this type of therapy effects appeared to be primarily physical, not psychological. So with this massage treatment lot of people that suffer different kinds of cancer , can make their lives easier.

This piece of news discusses about studies tested in patients; “385 women undergoing chemotherapy or hormonal therapy for advanced-stage breast cancer that had spread beyond the breast” and all the challenges and advances that have been achieved like the reduced fatigue and especially physical improvements.

One claimed explanation is that the pressure received in the feet may send signals that 'balance' the nervous system or release chemicals such as endorphins that reduce stress and pain.

In my opinion, each day I’m more surprised about medical advances, even with alternative procedures with thousands of years old. It’s amazing how a feet massage can help in diseases as cancer. It’s also incredible the complexity of our organism that makes all this possible, opening the possibility to use different therapies to relieve various pains in various parts of the body.