Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
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J Complement Integr Med · Mar 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA comparison of the effects of reflexology and relaxation on pain in women with multiple sclerosis.
Pain is a common and significant symptom in many individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The presence and severity of pain in individuals with MS has also been shown to be associated with higher levels of depression, functional impairment, and fatigue. It is common for MS patients and their caregivers to worry about narcotic addiction in the management of chronic pain. Therefore, this study aimed to determine and compare the effects of reflexology and relaxation on pain in women suffering from MS. ⋯ The results showed that both interventions are effective on relieving pain in women with MS; however, it appears that the effect of reflexology on pain reduction is greater than that of relaxation. Hence, these two methods can be recommended as effective techniques.