Greetings!
What makes a "game changer"? A lot of it has to do with timing. We thought the kidney doppler sonogram study from Austria was a game changer. Afterall it was a double blinded study done to NIH standards and it made a foot to body link.No such luck. And there have been other cancer studies. They haven't draw much attention. But this study from MSU is large and has a hefty price tag attached to it. And we think it is a "game changer". But that alone does not make a game changer. It has to be positive and well performed research. (Our special thanks to Barb Brower who has done so much to help change the game.) But the way things are going worldwide there is no telling if this is in fact the "tipping point" and that there are many more game changers to come. We had no idea that there is very active research going on from India to Iran. Maybe and finally the game is changing for all reflexology.
Sincerely,
Barbara and Kevin Kunz
Reflexology Research Project
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Preliminary Results from Michigan State University Study on Reflexology and Chemotherapy
Reflexology improves by 10% the physical function of women undergoing chemotherapy for stage 3 and 4 breast cancer according to preliminary results from the much anticipated 5-year Michigan State University (MSU) study. The results reflected less difficulty in breathing for study participants who received reflexology with consequent improved abilities in activities such as walking, carrying groceries and climbing stairs.
Such improvement in quality of life for the cancer patients was reported by lead reflexologist Barbara Bower of Branch Reflexology noting the findings by Dr. Wyatt, principle investigator and Dr. Alla Sikorskii, co-investigator and statistician of MSU. Barbara developed the 9-step reflexology protocol utilized in the research.
385 women participated in the study with: 141 assigned to a reflexology group (1 session each week for 4 weeks); 143 assigned to receive "manipulation of the feet that was designed to be similar to reflexology, but delivered by lay people" and 96 assigned to a control group. "Women in the reflexology group had less trouble breathing compared to women in the control group, and also compared to women who received lay foot manipulation."
More will be reported here as the official study results are released.
A $3.5 million National Institute of Health grant made possible the study. Thanks to positive results, a grant in a similar amount will fund a further study of reflexology and cancer care patients expected to begin later this year. Studied will be the impact of reflexology administered by primary care givers trained in the 9-step protocol developed by Barbara Brower. Barbara has launched an education program for teaching others the protocol. (www.branchreflexology.com )
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Research Results from around the Globe: Reflexology Aids Patient Care
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Positive results from the Michigan State University (MSU) study, conducted within the school's nursing department, bring focus to positive results from reflexology research by nurses around the globe. The MSU research adds to 65 previously reported studies by nurses with 24 about cancer care. The amount of funding-$3.5 million-and the number of participants-385- demonstrates increasing interest in reflexology research in America. In addition, the inclusion in the research of reflexology provided by lay people or caregivers, pioneered by reflexologist and nursing professor Dr. Nancy Stephenson of Eastern North Carolina State University, demonstrates the viable inclusion of reflexology in efficacious and cost-effective patient care.
As with the MSU results, positive results from recent reflexology research by midwives and nurses in Iran (dysmenorrhea and cesarean section) as well as an MD. D. in India (epilepsy) demonstrate the world wide potential for reflexology application in medical care. Comments in these studies note the universal solutions sought for patient problems: a natural solution to lessening pain (dysmenorrhea) avoiding complications of drugs; the benefits provided by reflexology of additional pain relief following surgery when medication alone does not meet patients' physical and psychological needs (cesarean section) and the challenge of treating intractable illness where medical measures do not fully resolve patient's symptoms (epilepsy)
.Research conducted by Geneva Association of Nurse Reflexologists (ACT) is anticipated, following analysis of research, will shed further light on such use of reflexology as a solution to a problem not met by standard medical practice. Reflexology was applied to 900 patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) at The ICU Surgical University Hospitals of Geneva to study its impact on the quality of agitation experienced by post-surgical patients. "The assumption was that it is possible to prevent episodes of agitation and their consequences in acting on the patient's environment with the IR-afferents and methods of relaxation. The objective was to test using a prospective randomized study (with control group) whether the introduction of relaxation methods (music, reflexology) and afferent could prevent episodes of agitation."
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Double Thumb Walking Technique Kevin, I used your double thumb technique and paid special attention to the middle cunieform both on two clients today and on myself. Wow! Got great results! Thank-you so much for the information! I especially liked how the double thumb(or finger) technique opened up the forefoot and toes resulting in a huge reduction of tension in the neck and shoulders! I used it on the lateral aspect of the foot to really work the arm and elbow with a resulting miracle (according to client). And working the cunieforms and metatarsal joints with a loosening technique and rotation on a point really helped the intestines return to normal action. Thank-you!!! Wendy Decker Download this eBook today. |
Latest eBook
Relax and Refresh: Reflexology Help with Stress and Anxiety
 We have just issued our latest eBook on stress and anxiety. in it we have - Fully illustrated technique descriptions
- How and where to apply technique
- Fully descriptive basic reflexology technique
- Insights from 24 studies about reducing stress and anxiety
- Tips, hints and insights into using reflexology to combat stress
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Evidenced Based Reflexology Research
One of the well touted myths about reflexology is hat there is no research on it. This is simply untrue. There is a lot of research on reflexology and it is of very high quality as this research document demonstrates.
Barbara Kunz feels that if you read the first two chapters you will never look at reflexology the same ever again. It as she puts it gives you a great grounding in the factual side of reflexology.
"I could hardly put it down." writes Dr. Nancy Stephenson, Nursing Professor and Reflexology Researcher
"Revolutionary." says Erma Sylvester, Reflexologist.
Build some confidence today with these great research documents. Specials |
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Game Changer!!!
What does it take to be a game changer? This is difficult to say but everyone of you is a game changer. If it hadn't been for all your fine work then these bigger game changers may not have happened.
We wish you the best of luck with your reflexology pursuit.
Barbara and Kevin Kunz
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