Re exo logy treatment relieves symptoms of multiple sclerosis : a randomized contro lled study

Objective: To evaluate the effect o f reflexo logy on symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a randomized, sham-contro lled clinical tr ial. Methods: Seventy-one MS patients were randomized to either study or contro l group, to receive an 11-week treatment. Reflexology treatment included manual pressure on specific points in the feet and massage of the calf area. The contro l group received nonspecific massage of the calf area. The intensity of paresthesias, ur inar y symptoms, muscle strength and spasticity was assessed in a masked fashion at the beginning of the study, after 1.5 months of treatment, end of study and at three months o f fo llow-up. Results: Fifty-three patients completed this study. Significant improvement in the differences in mean scores o f paresthesias (P3⁄4/0.01), ur inar y symptoms (P3⁄4/0.03) and spasticity (P3⁄4/0.03) was detected in the reflexology group. Improvement with border line significance was observed in the differences in mean scores of muscle strength between the reflexo logy group and the contro ls (P3⁄4/0.06). The improvement in the intensity of paresthesias remained significant at three months o f fo llow-up (P3⁄4/0.04). Conclusions: Specific reflexology treatment was of benefit in alleviating moto r, sensory and ur inar y symptoms in MS patients Multiple Sclerosis (2003) 9, 356¡/361