***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: AIM The objective of this study was to determine whether reflexology has an impact on the quality of life of patients in the palliative stage of cancer . METHOD Twelve patients in the palliative stage of cancer with various tumour types were r and omised into two groups . They were r and omly assigned to receive either reflexology or placebo reflexology . All participants completed a linear analogue self- assessment scale relating to quality of life . All participants then received three sessions of either reflexology or placebo reflexology . The same person , a qualified reflexologist , provided the interventions for both groups . The participants were not aware of which intervention they were receiving . All participants then completed a second linear analogue self- assessment scale relating to quality of life . RESULTS All participants felt that their quality of life had improved , even those who had received the placebo treatment . The reflexology group , however , reported more benefit than the placebo group . There was a significant difference ( p = 0.004 ) between the reflexology group and the placebo group . CONCLUSION This study showed that reflexology does have an impact on the quality of life of patients in the palliative stage of cancer It is known that many patients with obstructive pulmonary diseases use a number of complementary and alternative medicines ( CAM ) . There has been a great deal of interest into the CAM recently , with the House of Lords select committee for science and technology 's report suggesting r and omised-controlled trials are the best means of research ing the area . There is very little research into the effects of reflexology specifically on the effects it has on COPD . As such a r and omised-controlled trial was set up to examine the effects of reflexology treatments  on COPD . Results were qualitative and quantitative and showed that there are a number of areas of possible benefit for patients with COPD , but a larger scale study with a longer time frame is needed for a full evaluation of these effects Many specialist palliative care services are under pressure to provide therapies such as aromatherapy , acupuncture or reflexology either by paid staff or volunteers . The evidence to justify the provision of such treatment , however , remains largely anecdotal as controlled clinical trials are difficult to design . Reflexology involves the application of pressure to ` reflex ’ areas of the h and s or feet with the intention of producing specific effects elsewhere in the body . The reflexologist palpates tender or painful areas that , it is suggested , indicate functional imbalance . As well as treatment of specific conditions , it is suggested that reflexology can relax the patient , which may aid selfhealing and prevention of disease . We have therefore conducted a pilot study with a r and omized controlled design to compare reflexology with simple foot massage Integrative therapies such as massage have gained support as interventions that improve the overall patient experience during hospitalization . Cardiac surgery patients undergo long procedures and commonly have postoperative back and shoulder pain , anxiety , and tension . Given the promising effects of massage therapy for alleviation of pain , tension , and anxiety , we studied the efficacy and feasibility of massage therapy delivered in the postoperative cardiovascular surgery setting . Patients were r and omized to receive a massage  or to have quiet relaxation time ( control ) . In total , 113 patients completed the study  ( massage , n=62 ; control , n=51 ) . Patients receiving massage therapy had significantly decreased pain , anxiety , and tension . Patients were highly satisfied with the intervention , and no major barriers to implementing massage therapy were identified . Massage therapy may be an important component of the healing experience for patients after cardiovascular surgery The study aim ed to compare the effects of facial massage with that of foot massage on sleep induction and vital signs of healthy adults and to test a methodology that could be used by a lone research er in such a study . A r and omised within-group crossover pilot study of six healthy female volunteers was conducted . The interventions were a 20min foot and a 20min facial massage using peach-kernel base oil Prunus persica . A drop in systolic blood pressure of 8.5mmHg was recorded immediately after facial massage compared to that of 1mmHg recorded after foot massage . Both treatments were equally effective in reducing subjective levels of alertness during the interventions , with face massage marginally better at producing subjective sleepiness . A lone research er using these methods would be able objective ly to measure vital signs before and after interventions , but not during ; and would be able subjectively to measure sleep induction in non-sleep-laboratory context BACKGROUND Irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS ) is a significant problem for primary care , as treatment options are limited and it can frequently develop into a chronic condition . Complementary and alternative medicine , including reflexology , is being turned to increasingly in an attempt to manage symptoms . There are currently no studies which address the effectiveness of reflexology for IBS . Despite this , it continues to be advocated and used . AIM To provide the first evidence on the effectiveness of reflexology in the management of the core defining symptoms of IBS . DESIGN OF STUDY A single-blind trial carried out in primary care setting s. SETTING Thirty-four participants diagnosed with IBS on the basis of the Rome Criteria . METHOD Participants were allocated to receive either a reflexology foot massage or a non-reflexology foot massage control group . RESULTS On none of the three symptoms monitored -- abdominal pain , constipation/diarrhoea , and abdominal distention -- was there a statistically or clinical ly significant difference between reflexology and control groups . CONCLUSION On the basis of these results there is nothing to suggest that reflexology produces any specific benefit for patients with IBS . There is currently no evidence to support its use . However this was one ( relatively ) small scale study ; further research that , for example , assesses the impact of therapist ( professional and lay ) versus therapy , is still needed OBJECTIVE This experimental , repeated- measures , crossover design study with nursing home residents examined the efficacy of reflexology in individuals with mild-to-moderate stage dementia . Specifically , the study tested whether a weekly reflexology intervention contributed to the resident outcomes of reduced physiologic distress , reduced pain , and improved affect . SETTING The study was conducted at a large nursing home in suburban Philadelphia . SAMPLE The sample included 21 nursing home residents with mild-to-moderate stage dementia r and omly assigned to two groups . INTERVENTIONS The first group received 4 weeks of weekly reflexology treatments followed by 4 weeks of a control condition of friendly visits . The second group received 4 weeks of friendly visits followed by 4 weeks of weekly reflexology . OUTCOME MEASURES The primary efficacy endpoint was reduction of physiologic distress as measured by salivary alpha-amylase . The secondary outcomes were observed pain ( Checklist of Nonverbal Pain Indicators ) and observed affect ( Apparent Affect Rating Scale ) . RESULTS The findings demonstrate that when receiving the reflexology treatment condition , as compared to the control condition , the residents demonstrated significant reduction in observed pain and salivary alpha-amylase . No adverse events were recorded during the study period . CONCLUSIONS This study provides preliminary support for the efficacy of reflexology as a treatment of stress in nursing home residents with mild-to-moderate stage dementia OBJECTIVE To determine whether foot reflexology , a complementary therapy , has an effect greater than sham reflexology on induction of ovulation . DESIGN Sham-controlled r and omized trial with patients and statistician blinded . SETTING Infertility clinic in Plymouth , United Kingdom . PATIENT(S ) Forty-eight women attending the clinic with anovulation . INTERVENTION(S ) Women were r and omized to receive eight sessions of either genuine foot reflexology or sham reflexology with gentle massage over 10 weeks . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S ) The primary outcome was ovulation detected by serum progesterone level of > 30 nmol/L during the study period . RESULT ( S ) Twenty-six patients were r and omized to genuine reflexology and 22 to sham  ( one r and omized patient was withdrawn ) . Patients remained blinded throughout the trial . The rate of ovulation during true reflexology was 11 out of 26 ( 42 % ) , and during sham reflexology it was 10 out of 22 ( 46 % ) . Pregnancy rates were 4 out of 26 in the true group and 2 out of 22 in the control group . Because of recruitment difficulties , the required sample size of 104 women was not achieved . CONCLUSION ( S ) Patient blinding of reflexology studies is feasible . Although this study was too small to reach a definitive conclusion on the specific effect of foot reflexology , the results suggest that any effect on ovulation would not be clinical ly relevant . Sham reflexology may have a beneficial general effect , which this study was not design ed to detect OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of reflexology on symptoms of multiple sclerosis ( MS ) in a r and omized , sham-controlled clinical trial . METHODS Seventy-one MS patients were r and omized to either study or control 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 control group received nonspecific massage of the calf area . The intensity of paresthesias , urinary 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 of follow-up . RESULTS Fifty-three patients completed this study . Significant improvement in the differences in mean scores of paresthesias ( P = 0.01 ) , urinary symptoms ( P = 0.03 ) and spasticity ( P = 0.03 ) was detected in the reflexology group . Improvement with borderline significance was observed in the differences in mean scores of muscle strength between the reflexology group and the controls ( P = 0.06 ) . The improvement in the intensity of paresthesias remained significant at three months of follow-up ( P = 0.04 ) . CONCLUSIONS Specific reflexology treatment was of benefit in alleviating motor ; sensory and urinary symptoms in MS patients OBJECTIVE An influence on organ-associated blood flow is considered as a possible mechanism of action of reflex zone massage of the feet ( FRZM ) therapy . In the present study we investigated whether changes in intestinal blood flow can be achieved by FRZM . MATERIAL AND METHODS 32 healthy adults ( 19 women and 13 men ) were r and omly assigned to the treatment or the placebo group . Subjects of the treatment group received foot massage on the zones assigned to the intestines and those of the placebo group received massage on zones unrelated to the intestines . Before , during and after FRZM , the blood flow velocity , the peak systolic and the end diastolic velocities in the superior mesenteric artery as well as the resistive index as a parameter of vascular resistance were calculated . RESULTS During FRZM , in the subjects of the treatment group there was a significant reduction in the resistive index ( p = 0.021 ) , suggesting an increase in the blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery and the subordinate vascular system . In contrast , there were no significant changes in the resistive index in the subjects of the placebo group . CONCLUSION The reduction in the resistive index observed in the treatment group supports the assumption that FRZM improves blood flow in the organs considered to be associated with the specific foot zones , at least during the therapy process Objective : To determine whether reflexology therapy — the application of manual pressure to reflex points on the ears , h and s , and feet that somatotopically correspond to specific areas of the body — can significantly reduce premenstrual symptoms compared to placebo treatment . Methods : Thirty-five women who complained of previous distress with premenstrual syndrome ( PMS ) were r and omly assigned to be treated by ear , h and , and foot reflexology or to receive placebo reflexology . All subjects completed a daily diary , which monitored 38 premenstrual symptoms on a four-point scale . Somatic and psychological indicators of premenstrual distress were recorded each day for 2 months before treatment , for 2 months during reflexology , and for 2 months afterward . The reflexology sessions for both groups were provided by a trained reflexology therapist once a week for 8 weeks , and lasted 30 minutes each . Results : Analysis of variance for repeated measures demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in premenstrual symptoms for the women given true reflexology treatment than for the women in the placebo group . Conclusion : These clinical findings support the use of ear , h and , and foot reflexology for the treatment of PMS Critical care can be considered to be a stressful environment at both physiological and psychological levels for patients . In this article , a research study in which a five-minute foot massage was offered to 25 patients ( 68 sessions in total ) as a stress-reduction intervention is described . A quasi-experimental repeated measures design was used to collect data before , during and after the intervention . Physiological data ( heart rate , mean arterial blood pressure , respirations and peripheral oxygen saturation ) were obtained from the patient bedside monitoring system . Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated there was no significant effect from the intervention on peripheral oxygen saturation . However , a significant decrease in heart rate , blood pressure and respirations was observed during the foot massage intervention . Results indicated foot massage had the potential effect of increasing relaxation as evidence d by physiological changes during the brief intervention administered to critically ill patients in intensive care Objective Clinical experience suggests that reflexology may have beneficial effects on the symptoms occurring in menopausal women , particularly psychological symptoms . This study aims to examine that effect rigorously BACKGROUND Because of the widely presumed association between heart disease and psychological wellbeing , the use of so-called ' complementary ' therapies as adjuncts to conventional treatment modalities have been the subject of considerable debate . The present study arose from an attempt to identify a safe and effective therapeutic intervention to promote wellbe ing , which could be practicably delivered by nurses to patients in the postoperative recovery period following 
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This systematic review found that although reflexology has been shown to have an effect on selected hemodynamic variables , the lack of method ological control for nonspecific general massage effects means that there is little convincing evidence at this time to suggest the existence of a specific treatment-related hemodynamic effect .
Furthermore , the review found that few studies of reflexology controlled for nonspecific effects in order to isolate any specific active component , despite the hemodynamic cl aim being a key part of the therapeutic value of reflexology .