REFLEXOLOGY RESEARCH FOR MUSCULAR-SKELETAL CONDITIONS

  1. TREATMENT OF KNEE ARTHRALGIA WITH FOOT REFLEXO-THERAPY: AN ANALYSIS OF SEVENTEEN CASES.
    By Chen Guang-ming, Yang-Hua Clinic, Shen Zhen City

    Eight females and nine males, aged 5 to 80 years old, received ten daily 30 - 45 minute foot reflexo-therapy treatment. Arthralgia (joint pain) was caused by trauma in 5 cases, and by arthritis in 12 cases. Results: eleven patients (64.71%), including the 5 trauma caused cases completely recovered. Four patients (23.53%) improved. Two patients (11.76%) were unaffected.

     

  2. EFFECT OF FOOT REFLEXO-MASSAGE ON RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
    By Chi Jianwen, Guanzhou, China

    This paper presents treatment of three female patients with rheumatoid arthritis, aged 37, 50 and 62. The seven hour-long foot reflexo-therapy treatments were administered on alternate days for a course of treatment. Two patients received two courses, the third received four. It was concluded that the foot reflexo-therapy has satisfactory anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, but its effect, in general views is moderate.

     

  3. OBSERVATION ON THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF 15 CASES OF GOUT TREATED WITH FOOT REFLEXOTHERAPY
    By Wu Zhensheng, The Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiading District, Shanghai

    This paper reports on the foot reflexo-therapy treatment of gout for 15 patients, aged 52 to 82 (average age 68), 12 males and 3 females. Treatment consisted of one 50-minute foot reflexo-therapy treatment followed by six to fourteen 30-minute treatments, as required. The treatment was effective for all 15 patients, based on the criteria: obvious alleviation of arthralgia; capability of walking immediately after treatment; disappearance of joint swelling and normalization of the blood uric acid concentration in blood exam. Pain was alleviated for all 15 patients after their first treatment. Two acute plus three chronic typical cases are presented.

     

  4. A CONTROLLED CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON FOOT REFLEXOLOGY TREATMENT FOR CERVICAL SPONDYLOPATHY
    By Gui Shouqing and Luo Desheng, Hospital of the Xianning Medical College, Hubei Province

    Eighty patients suffering from cervical spondylopathy (abnormal immobility and solidification of the neck vertebrate) were divided into a treatment group (52 pts.) that received foot reflexology, and a control group (28 pts.) that received cervical vertebrae traction and iodine iontophoresis. Blood samples were taken pre and post treatment and sent for determinations of superoxide dismutase, gluthathione peroxidase activities, the malonicdialdehyde content and the total antioxidation activity. Results: there was no significant difference in effectiveness between the two groups. The rate of clinical cure was higher in the foot reflexology treatment group (48.1%) than the control group (28.95%). Blood analysis showed no differences between the two groups before treatment, whereas after treatment, the differences in parameters that were related to the free radical metabolism, in comparison with that before treatment were significant or quite significant, (T=2.855-18.694, P<0.01-0.001). The results suggest that the etiology, pathology and effective treatment of the disease is related to the metabolism of free radicals. Comparing the two therapies it is concluded that foot reflexology has the advantages of not requiring skilled medical personnel, or equipment, and, being easy to perform with no adverse side effects, it may be learned and practiced by patient's family members.

     

  5. CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON THE TREATMENT FOR 83 CASES WITH CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS BY HAND MASSAGE COMBINED WITH TUI-NA
    By Xu Zhaoyi, The Clinic of the University of Shanghai, Jaiding Section.

    A report on the treatment of 127 patients, 53 males and 74 females, aged 31 - 70 years, all diagnosed with cervical spondylosis (immobility and solidification of the neck vertebrate). These patients had not responded to previous treatments. The treatment group was eighty-three patients, 37 male and 46 female, 31 - 70 years, who received a combination of hand massage and Tui-Na therapy (Chinese therapy that includes stimulation of acupoints). The control group was 44 patients, 16 male and 28 female, 36 - 70 years, received hand massage only. Results: curative rate of treatment group: 98.79%; control group 95.45% (no statistically significant difference). Rate of clinical cure: treatment group 49.39%; control group 27.27%, (remarkable difference). It was concluded that the combination of techniques provided a better and quicker effect for the patient.