The effect of foot reflexology on postmenopausal depression: a controlled randomized trail

Background: Postmenopausal depression, a major public health problem worldwide, is associated with low quality of life, high morbidity and mortality rates with high rate of suicide, and huge socio-economic burden (1). Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of foot reflexology on postmenopausal depression. Participants and methods: One hundred postmenopausal women with depression, aged 50-65 years, were randomized into two groups equal in number. Group (A) received relaxation exercises in form of diaphragmatic breathing exercises as group (B) in addition to reflexology on pressure points in feet for 1 hour per session, 3 times /week for 6 weeks, while Group (B) received relaxation exercises in form of diaphragmatic breathing exercises, twice per session with rest about 20 second and women was asked to perform breathing exercises at home 3-4 times per day for 6 weeks. Postmenopausal depression was assessed pre-post treatment through Beck Inventory Depression Questionnaire. Results: There was highly significant decreases in mean values of (BIDQ) of study group (A) when compared with its corresponding value in control group (B) with p = 0.001. Conclusion: These results suggest that foot reflexology is effective in treating postmenopausal women depression that causes a greater improvement in their quality of life.