Reflexology in pregnant women with low back and / or pelvic girdle pain

What is it about?

We collected salivary samples and self reported pain from a group of women during their first pregnancy who reported having low back pain and / or pelvic girdle pain (LBPGP). Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments; six 30-minute reflexology treatments, six 30-minute footpath treatments, or usual ante-natal care. There was a clinically important reduction in self-reported pain following reflexology treatments. Salivary beta-endorphin (stress hormone) decreased in the reflexology group and increased in the other two treatment groups. Salivary cortisol (stress hormone) increased by 32% in the footpath group, 31% in the usual ante-natal care group and by 19% in the reflexology group. These findings are preliminary, but suggest that reflexology may have a beneficial effect on pain and physiological stress for women experiencing LBPGP during their first pregnancy. However, antenatal reflexology is under researched and these findings must be followed up with further study.

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Why is it important?

This preliminary study suggests that ante-natal reflexology may be helpful for women experiencing LBPGP during their first pregnancy. Given the high numbers of women self-medicating with painkillers during pregnancy (Sinclair et al., 2014), and no evidence of the safety of these medicines to both mother and unborn baby, it would be prudent to establish the safety of non-pharmacological interventions such as reflexology.

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