Table 1.
Characteristics of the studies included in this review.
| Study ID | Region (country) | Sample size (N/C) | Age, yr (N/C) | Intervention | Control | Main measurement outcome | Follow up, day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatice Dilek Doğan 2021 | USA | 30/30 | 36.43/39.46 | reflexology (3 sessions/week) | No reflexology made | visual analogue scale (VAS); fatigue severity scale (FSS), multiple sclerosis quality of life-54 (MSQOL-54) scale | 12 wk |
| Mahbobeh Sajadi 2020 | Iran | 33/30 | 34.52/32.12 | reflexology (twince/wk) | Foot surface massage without pressure was applied to simulate the interventions |
constipation assessment scale (CAS); stool frequency; short form (SF)36 quality of life (QOL) questionnaire | 6 wk |
| Mahbobeh Sajadi 2020 | Iran | 33/30 | - | reflexology (twince/wk) | placebo intervention | fatigue impact scale (FIS); pittsburgh sleep qual-ity index (PSQI); state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) | 4 wk |
| Nusrat Ebrahimi 2020 | Iran | 30/30 | 32.66/32.30 | foot reflexology (3 times/wk) | foot sole massage | fatigue severity scale (FSS); stress symptom index (SSI); serum ortisol levels | 4 wk |
| CM Hughes 2009 | Northern Ireland | 35/36 | 50/53 | precision reflexology (weekly) | Sham reflexology | visual analogue scale (VAS). | 10 wk |
| Fatemeh Nazari 2015 | Iran | 25/25/25 | reflexology/relaxation/ control(34.40/ 33.90/ 34.40) | foot reflexology (twince/wk); relaxation (twince/wk) | received care and routine medical treatment | fatigue severity scale (FSS) | 4 wk |
| Mozhgan Soheili 2022 | Iran | 25/25/25 | reflexology/relaxation/ control (34.40/ 33.90/ 34.04) | reflexology(twince/wk); relaxation (twince/wk) | routine treatment | anxiety score, stress score, depression score [depression anxiety and stress scale-21 (DASS.21)] | 4 wk |
| Peter A. Mackereth 2009 | UK | 25/25 | 52.52/48.12 | reflexology (weekly) | progressive muscle relaxationPMR (weekly) | the short form 36 (SF36); general health questionnaire 28 (GHQ28); state anxiety inventory (SAI); | 6 wk |
| L Miller 2013 | UK | 10/10 | 53.6/58.1 | reflexology (once/wk) | Sham reflexology | multiple sclerosis impact scale (MSIS29); hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD); visual analogue scale (VAS) | 8 wk |
| Fatemeh Nazari 2015 | Iran | 25/25/25 | reflexology/relaxation/ control(34.40/ 33.90/ 34.40) | reflexology (twince/wk); relaxation (twince/wk) | routine treatment | numeric rating scale (NRS) pain score | 4 wk |
| I Siev-Ner 2003 | Israel | 27/26 | 46.29/49.29 | reflexology (once/wk) | Sham treatment of nonspecific massage | paresthesias [visual analogue scale (VAS)]; urinary symptoms [American urological association (AUA) symptom score]; spastisity, muscle tone-by Ashworth score; muscle strength-by British medical research council (BMRC) scale |
11 weeks |
CAS = problem assessment scale, FIS = fatigue impact scale, FSS = fatigue severity scale, HAD = hospital anxiety and depression scale, MSIS29 = multiple sclerosis impact scale, MSQOL-54 = multiple sclerosis quality of life -54, NRS = numeric rating scale, SAI = state anxiety inventory, SSI = stress symptom index, VAS = visual analogue scale, QOL = quality of life.