The Effect of Reflexology Massage on Pain and Quality of Life in Diabetic Patients With Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Pain Management Nursing, cilt.27, sa.5, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 27 Sayı: 5
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.pmn.2026.05.010
- Dergi Adı: Pain Management Nursing
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Diabetes, Meta-analysis, Neuropathy, Pain, Quality of life, Reflexology massage
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective To investigate the effects of reflexology on pain and quality of life in patients with diabetes and neuropathic pain. Methods Randomized controlled trials of reflexology on pain and quality of life in patients with diabetes and neuropathic pain were searched comprehensively in PubMed, Embase, Medline, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, DergiPark, and the Turkish Higher Education Center Dissertation databases up to March 10, 2025. The risk of bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. The effect of the intervention was estimated as the standard mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI) using random-effects models in Review Manager 5.4, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistic. Results Eight experimental trials were included in this meta-analysis, comprising five randomized controlled trials and three quasi-experimental studies. The total sample size of the studies was 590 (experimental group: 296; control group: 294). The findings revealed a statistically significant reduction in total pain levels of 1.64 points (mean difference: −1.64; 95% CI: [−1.81, −1.47]; Z = 18.79; p < .00001). The quality of life scale showed a decrease of 14.31 points, which was statistically significant and favored the experimental group (mean difference: −14.31; 95% CI: [−18.75, −9.87]; Z = 6.32; p < .0001). However, significant heterogeneity and risks of bias were observed across studies ( I 2 < 40%). Conclusions Based on the combined results of this study, reflexology was found to reduce pain and improve quality of life in patients with diabetes and neuropathic pain. Therefore, reflexology may be a potentially effective complementary technique for improving neuropathic pain, and healthcare professionals could play an important role in advising patients on how to access qualified reflexology practitioners. Clinical Relevance Reflexology massage significantly reduces neuropathic pain and improves quality of life in patients with diabetes and neuropathic pain, offering a noninvasive, potentially cost-effective complementary therapy that can enhance multidisciplinary care plans for managing diabetic neuropathy.