Abstract
Many jobs require workers to stand for prolonged periods of time while performing their job duties. Prolonged standing at work has been linked to negative health outcomes, particularly musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) and fatigue. Reflexology is a complementary and alternative medicine technique that may be well-suited to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms, fatigue, stress, and anxiety in workers who stand for prolonged amounts of time because it involves stimulating reflex points on the feet purported to correspond to different bodily parts, increases relaxation, and reduces stress. Additionally, general relaxation techniques applied to the feet and lower leg, combined with passive relaxation time, may also provide some relief. In the current longitudinal, mixed-method intervention study, participants are randomized to either a reflexology condition or a passive relaxation condition, and their self-reported levels of MSS, fatigue, stress, and anxiety are assessed for two weeks at pre-test, two weeks during the intervention stage, and two-weeks post-intervention along with qualitative responses about their experiences. Multilevel analyses reveal participants in both groups reported significant reductions in scores across all measures from pre-test through intervention, but the decreases did not vary significantly by condition for any outcomes except anxiety. In addition, results from qualitative thematic analysis substantiate findings regarding the prevalence of negative health outcomes in standing workers and provide support for the use of reflexology or relaxation in helping to alleviate those outcomes.
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Data Availability
Study data and material can be made available upon request to the first author.
Notes
A more detailed thematic summary is available upon request from the first author.
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The current study was funded through the Psi Chi Graduate Research Grant (awarded $1,400), which allowed for purchasing of study incentives and equipment.
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Kavanagh, K., Shanock, L. How Long Can they Stand it? Examining the Effectiveness of Reflexology and a Passive Relaxation Intervention in Improving Health Outcomes in Workers Who Stand. Occup Health Sci 5, 95–127 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41542-021-00082-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41542-021-00082-9