The aim of this randomised controlled trial was to evaluate the effect of foot reflexology on pain intensity, fatigue and quality of life in migraine patients.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Is foot reflexology effective in reducing pain intensity in migraine patients? Is foot reflexology effective in reducing the fatigue level of migraine patients? Is foot reflexology effective in improving the quality of life of migraine patients? Comparison group: The researchers will evaluate the effects of foot reflexology by comparing the group receiving reflexology intervention with the control group receiving only routine treatment.
Participants were selected according to the following criteria:
Intervention group: Individuals diagnosed with migraine will receive foot reflexology twice a week for a total of 10 sessions.
Control group: No additional intervention will be applied to this group, only their routine treatment and medical follow-up will continue.
Both groups will be evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the study with the Patient Information Form, Migraine 24-Hour Quality of Life Scale (QoLQS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). After the completion of the study, reflexology will be applied to patients in the control group who are willing to receive reflexology.
Who can participate
Age range18 Years – 60 Years
SexALL
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Inclusion criteria
✓. Being between the ages of 18-60 (to conduct the study with adult individuals and to minimise the effect of age-related variables)
✓. Being diagnosed with migraine
✓. Having experienced at least 2 migraine attacks in the last 6 months (to ensure a homogenous group among patients with more chronic or episodic migraine)
✓. Migraine with a severity of 4 or more with VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) (To prevent mild headaches from affecting the study)
✓. Having experienced at least 2 migraine attacks in the last 6 months (to ensure a homogenous group among patients with more chronic or episodic migraine)
✓. To participate and continue to work as a volunteer
Exclusion criteria
✕. For female participants: Being pregnant or breastfeeding (as hormone changes may change the effect of migraine and reflexology)
✕. Having another chronic neurological disease (epilepsy, MS, Parkinson's, etc.) (to avoid the effect of symptoms that may be confused with migraine)
What they're measuring
1
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Timeframe: At the end of the 5-week intervention
2
Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)
Timeframe: At the end of the 5-week intervention
3
24-Hour Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (24 h MQoLQ)
✕. Being treated with another alternative medicine method (acupuncture, biofeedback, etc.) at the same time (to measure the independent effect of reflexology)
✕. Regular use of Botox, nerve blockade or invasive treatment for migraine in the last 3 months (to reduce the influence of external factors on migraine severity)
✕. Severe psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc.) or a history of severe depression/anxiety (to isolate the effect of stress and psychological factors on reflexology)
✕. No previous serious side effects or intolerance to reflexology (important for safety)
✕. Diabetic neuropathy, severe peripheral neuropathy or severe dermatological disorders (infection, open wound, etc.) in the foot area (as it may affect the applicability of reflexology)