Journal of Integrative Nursing · Published 2026-04-01 · DOI 10.4103/jin.jin_17_26
Reflexology has recently gained attention as a complementary therapy, but existing evidence on its effectiveness for blood pressure (BP) remains scattered and inconsistent. This study aimed to synthesize and critically evaluate published systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining the impact of reflexology on BP. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Epistemonikos up to until August 25, 2025. Eligible studies included systematic reviews and meta-analyses assessing the effects of reflexology on adult systolic BP and diastolic BP. Methodological quality was evaluated using the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 tool, and overlap among primary studies was measured using the Corrected Covered Area (CCA) index. The review process followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews of Reviews checklist. Nine reviews (five meta-analyses and four systematic reviews), including 43 primary studies, were identified. Meta-analytic results showed considerable heterogeneity, with findings ranging from no significant effect to mild or moderate BP reduction after reflexology. All included reviews were rated as critically low quality, mainly due to inadequate assessment of publication bias and insufficient evaluation of risk of bias in primary studies. Primary study overlap was low (CCA = 3.77%). The current evidence on the efficacy of reflexology for BP control remains uncertain and low in certainty. While reflexology appears safe and may contribute to small BP reductions, the evidence is insufficient to support strong clinical recommendations. Robust, large-scale randomized controlled trials and methodologically sound systematic reviews are needed to clarify the role of reflexology in hypertension management.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
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