Effect of Reflexology on Pain and Sleep Disorders in Females With Fibromyalgia

Sponsor
Cairo University
Study ID
NCT07614945
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

  • Fibromyalgia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
FEMALE
Age
18 Years - 65 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Foot Reflexology — BEHAVIORAL
    Foot reflexology will be delivered twice weekly for six weeks, with each session lasting 30 minutes. Moderate thumb and finger pressure will be applied bilaterally to standardized foot reflex zones associated with fibromyalgia symptom management.
  • Conventional Physical Therapy — OTHER
    Conventional physical therapy includes aerobic exercise, stretching, and low-load resistance training administered twice weekly for six weeks. Exercise programs will be individualized and progressively adjusted according to participant tolerance.
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) — DEVICE
    High-frequency TENS will be administered twice weekly for six weeks using conventional settings for pain management in fibromyalgia participants.

Study Details

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effect of foot reflexology on pain and sleep disorders in Egyptian female patients with fibromyalgia. Sixty female participants aged 18 to 65 years diagnosed with fibromyalgia will be randomly assigned into two equal groups. The control group will receive conventional physical therapy, including aerobic exercise, resistance training, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), while the experimental group will receive the same treatment in addition to foot reflexology. Interventions will be delivered twice weekly for six weeks. Pain, sleep quality, psychological distress, and functional activity will be evaluated at baseline and after treatment using validated Arabic assessment tools and pressure pain threshold measurements. The study aims to determine whether reflexology provides additional benefits when combined with conventional physical therapy in women with fibromyalgia.

Key Dates

First listed
May 29, 2026
Start date
Jun 3, 2026
Status verified
Jun 2026
Primary completion
Oct 31, 2026
Completion
Oct 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Active Comparator: Control Group
    Participants will receive conventional physical therapy including aerobic exercise, resistance training, stretching exercises, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) twice weekly for six weeks.
  • Experimental: Experimental Group
    Participants will receive conventional physical therapy in addition to foot reflexology twice weekly for six weeks. Conventional physical therapy includes aerobic exercise, resistance training, stretching exercises, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Foot reflexology sessions will be conducted for 30 minutes per session following standardized reflexology protocols.

Primary Outcome Measure

Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks ]

Central Contacts

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