Effect of Reflexology on Pain and Pulmonary Function in Patients with Cervical Spondylosis
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- Category: Vol. 84, December 2016
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Effect of Reflexology on Pain and Pulmonary Function in Patients with Cervical Spondylosis, ZAHRA M.H. SERRY, AMIRA M. AFIFY and AMANI Z. AL-JAMMALI
Abstract
Background: Reflexology is a form of complementary medicine techniques that is known to be used in pain manage-ment, relief of tension and fatigue, and improving psycholog-ical status of patients suffering various conditions. The effect of reflexology on cervical spondylosis chronic pain and related respiratory dysfunction is not yet addressed.
Objective: To study the effects of reflexology on pain and ventilatory parameters in patients with cervical spondylosis.
Methods: Thirty patients with cervical spondylosis were assigned to Reflexology (RL) group (11 men and 4 women), and control group (11 men and 4 women). Mean age in RL group was 59.93±4.36, and in control group was 57.66±3.37. Patients in both groups were assessed pre-treatment and post-treatment at the end of 4 weeks for pain using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and ventilatory function tests that included VC, FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC. The reflexology group received 3 sessions/week (45 minutes each) for 3 weeks.
Results: Pain significantly improved at post-treatment than pre-treatment in RL group. Likewise pain was significantly less than the control group at post-treatment assessment. Ventilatory function tests did not show any significant differ-ence neither within groups comparing pre and post-treatment assessment nor between groups comparing pre and post-treatment assessments in both groups.
Conclusion: Pain intensity but not ventilatory parameters is improved by application of reflexology in patients with cervical spondylosis.