Foot reflexology for reduction of blood pressure in hypertensive individual: A systematic review

Abstract

Importance: Hypertension is the modifiable risk factor associated with cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. Foot reflexology has been proposed to reduce the blood pressure for the patients with hypertension but the available evidences are uncertain.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, know the efficacy of foot reflexology on blood pressure reduction in patients with hypertension.

Data sources and selection: A systematic search of electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, Embase, and Cochrane library since inception till January 2022. Randomized controlled trial with foot reflexology as an intervention for lowering blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients was included in the study.

Data extraction and outcome measures: Data was independently extracted by four authors. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was the primary outcome measure. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated to determine the effect size.

Results: The pooled effect of SBP (SMD: -2.70, 95 % of CI: -6.79, 1.39, I² - 97 %, P < 0.001) and DBP (SMD: -2.12, 95 % of CI: -5.95, 1.71, I² - 97 %, P < 0.001) changes are not favorable for foot reflexology in terms of reducing blood pressure.

Conclusion: Findings from the studies showed that foot reflexology interventions were not much effective in the reduction of blood pressure among patients with hypertension.

Keywords: Blood pressure; Complementary and integrative medicine; Foot Reflexology; Hypertension; Meta-analysis.