The effectiveness of reflexology on blood pressure in pregnant women
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Jun 3, 2025
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Abstract
High blood pressure during pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, is a serious complication that can pose risks to both the mother and fetus. Foot reflexology has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention to help manage blood pressure. This study aimed to systematically review the effectiveness of reflexology therapy in reducing blood pressure among pregnant women. A systematic review was conducted using 18 scientific articles published between 2013 and 2024, retrieved from Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The selected articles included both quantitative and qualitative studies focusing on the use of reflexology as an intervention for managing blood pressure during pregnancy. The data analyzed covered research design, sample size, intervention protocols, and blood pressure outcomes. The findings indicate that foot reflexology consistently reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, especially in pregnant women with gestational hypertension. The mechanism of reflexology involves stimulating specific reflex points related to the cardiovascular and endocrine systems, as well as activating the parasympathetic nervous system to promote relaxation and stress reduction. Reflexology has also been shown to be safe, as it does not induce uterine contractions, and can be effectively combined with other non-pharmacological therapies such as warm foot soaks and aromatherapy for optimal results. Although further research with stronger study designs is needed, current evidence supports the use of reflexology as a complementary therapy in managing blood pressure during pregnancy.
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How to Cite
AS, E. and Asmanidar, A. (2025) “The effectiveness of reflexology on blood pressure in pregnant women”, Science Midwifery, 13(2), pp. 464-473. doi: 10.35335/midwifery.v13i2.1933.
References
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Abeer AA Mansour, Mohamed AM Awad, Hala MH Emara, Moamen MM Hassan, & Elham S Hassan. (2023). Effect of Foot Refelexology on Preeclampsia. Journal of Advanced Zoology, 44(S6), 401–408. https://doi.org/10.17762/JAZ.V44IS6.2179
Elci, O. C., Edmonson, S. B., Juusela, A. L., Elci, O. C., Edmonson, S. B., & Juusela, A. L. (2025). Maternal Morbidity and Mortality from a Population Health Perspective. Labor and Delivery From a Public Health Perspective [Working Title]. https://doi.org/10.5772/INTECHOPEN.1009968
El-Fekey, E. S. A., Hala, ;, Omara, M. H., Ghada, ;, El-Refaye, E., & Abou El-Enin, M. F. M. (2018). Effect of Foot Reflexology on Stress and Anxiety during Pregnancy. The Medical Journal of Cairo University, 86(June), 1607–1611. https://doi.org/10.21608/MJCU.2018.56366
Ermiati, E., Setyawati, A., & Emaliyawati, E. (2018). Foot Massage Modification to Reduce Blood Pressure in Pregnant Woman with Preeclampsia. Jurnal Keperawatan Padjadjaran, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.24198/JKP.V6I2.625
Familia, E. (2025). COMBATING GLOBAL MATERNAL MORTALITY.
Hutcheon, J. A., Lisonkova, S., & Joseph, K. S. (2011). Epidemiology of pre-eclampsia and the other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 25(4), 391–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BPOBGYN.2011.01.006
Kadek, N., Lestari, Y., Made, N., Mahayani, E., Luh, N., & Dewi, P. T. (2023). The Effect of Feet Reflection Massage on Blood Pressure in Hypertension Patients at Community Health Centers II Petang. Nursing and Health Sciences Journal (NHSJ), 3(1), 56–60. https://doi.org/10.53713/NHS.V3I1.151
Kaki, P. P., Penurunan, T., Darah, T., Ibu, P., Dengan, H., Di, H., Yogyakarta, R. S., Mawarti, R., & Zaidah, L. (2019). PENGARUH PIJAT KAKI TERHADAP PENURUNAN TEKANAN DARAH PADA IBU HAMIL DENGAN HIPERTENSI DI RS YOGYAKARTA. MEDIA ILMU KESEHATAN, 8(1), 77–86. https://doi.org/10.30989/MIK.V8I1.261
Liang, X., Wu, S., Li, K., Zhang, H., Yang, F., Wang, X., & Yang, G. (2023a). The effects of reflexology on symptoms in pregnancy: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Heliyon, 9(8), e18442. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.HELIYON.2023.E18442
Liang, X., Wu, S., Li, K., Zhang, H., Yang, F., Wang, X., & Yang, G. (2023b). The effects of reflexology on symptoms in pregnancy: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Heliyon, 9(8), e18442. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.HELIYON.2023.E18442
Madise, N., Nandi, A., Wong, B., & Razvi, S. (2023). Achieving Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Development Goals Effectively: A Cost-Benefit Analysis. Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis, 14(S1), 206–234. https://doi.org/10.1017/BCA.2023.24
Raina, N., Khanna, R., Gupta, S., Jayathilaka, C. A., Mehta, R., & Behera, S. (2023). Progress in achieving SDG targets for mortality reduction among mothers, newborns, and children in the WHO South-East Asia Region. The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia, 18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100307
Saber, F., Mohammed, N., Khalaf Gooda, W., Mostafa, O., Elzaher, A., & Ahmed Abdelhafez, A. (2024a). Effect of Foot Reflexology versus Warm Water Foot Soak with Body Relaxation Techniques on Symptoms and Quality of Life of Preeclampsia. Original Article Egyptian Journal of Health Care, 15(3).
Saber, F., Mohammed, N., Khalaf Gooda, W., Mostafa, O., Elzaher, A., & Ahmed Abdelhafez, A. (2024b). Effect of Foot Reflexology versus Warm Water Foot Soak with Body Relaxation Techniques on Symptoms and Quality of Life of Preeclampsia. Egyptian Journal of Health Care, 15(3), 945–961. https://doi.org/10.21608/EJHC.2024.382656
Siti, U., Sari, C., Yulianti, E., Soedarso, J., Laut, B. B., Tenggara, K. P., Pontianak, K., & Barat, K. (2024). The Effect of Reflexology on Blood Pressure in Pregnant Women with Hypertension. JURNAL KEBIDANAN, 14(1), 54–58. https://doi.org/10.31983/JKB.V14I1.9850
Tan, E. K., & Tan, E. L. (2013). Alterations in physiology and anatomy during pregnancy. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 27(6), 791–802. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BPOBGYN.2013.08.001
Venugopal, V., Yogapriya, C., Deenadayalan, B., Akila, A., Poonguzhali, S., Poornima, R., & Maheshkumar, K. (2023). Foot reflexology for reduction of blood pressure in hypertensive individual: A systematic review. The Foot, 54, 101974. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FOOT.2023.101974
Von Dadelszen, P., & Magee, L. A. (2017). Strategies to reduce the global burden of direct maternal deaths. Obstetric Medicine, 10(1), 5–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1753495X16686287
Warisantika, I., Kusmiyati, Y., & Guna Bangsa Yogyakarta, S. (2024). The Effectiveness of Feet Soak With Warm Water and Feet Massage on Blood Pressure Reduction in Pregnant Women with hypertension: Journal of Health (JoH), 11(02), 128–139. https://doi.org/10.30590/JOH.V11N2.542
Warisantika, I., Kusmiyati, Y., & Sunartono, S. (2024). The Effectiveness of Feet Soak With Warm Water and Feet Massage on Blood Pressure Reduction in Pregnant Women with hypertension. Journal of Health (JoH), 11(02), 128–139. https://doi.org/10.30590/JOH.V11N2.542
wati, M., & Azlina, F. A. (2025). THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FOOT SOOK USING WARM WATER WITH LEMONGRASS ON BLOOD PRESSURE REDUCTION IN MRS. W WITH PREECLAMPSIA IN DESA SUNGAI KITANO, KECAMATAN MARTAPURA TIMUR. JOURNAL of HEALTH, 4(1), 63–66. https://banuainstitute.org/JOHE/article/view/135
Wilkerson, R. G., & Ogunbodede, A. C. (2019). Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, 37(2), 301–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EMC.2019.01.008/ASSET/FE177D8E-FA64-4095-A9C9-B968E2BB2FBF/MAIN.ASSETS/GR1.SML
Yang, J. ming, Li, Z. qin, Ye, H., Wu, Y. lin, Long, Y., Zhong, Y. biao, Luo, Y., & Wang, M. yuan. (2024a). Effects of foot reflexology massage on pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. Scientific Reports, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/S41598-023-51107-Y,
Yang, J. ming, Li, Z. qin, Ye, H., Wu, Y. lin, Long, Y., Zhong, Y. biao, Luo, Y., & Wang, M. yuan. (2024b). Effects of foot reflexology massage on pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/S41598-023-51107-Y;SUBJMETA=477,631,692,700;KWRD=HEALTH+CARE,PSYCHOLOGY
Zulhijjah, S., & Ibrahim, S. W. A. (2024). Pengaruh pemberian akupresur terhadap perubahan tekanan darah pada ibu hamil. Journal of Midwifery Care, 5(1), 152–157. https://doi.org/10.34305/JMC.V5I1.1387
Abeer AA Mansour, Mohamed AM Awad, Hala MH Emara, Moamen MM Hassan, & Elham S Hassan. (2023). Effect of Foot Refelexology on Preeclampsia. Journal of Advanced Zoology, 44(S6), 401–408. https://doi.org/10.17762/JAZ.V44IS6.2179
Elci, O. C., Edmonson, S. B., Juusela, A. L., Elci, O. C., Edmonson, S. B., & Juusela, A. L. (2025). Maternal Morbidity and Mortality from a Population Health Perspective. Labor and Delivery From a Public Health Perspective [Working Title]. https://doi.org/10.5772/INTECHOPEN.1009968
El-Fekey, E. S. A., Hala, ;, Omara, M. H., Ghada, ;, El-Refaye, E., & Abou El-Enin, M. F. M. (2018). Effect of Foot Reflexology on Stress and Anxiety during Pregnancy. The Medical Journal of Cairo University, 86(June), 1607–1611. https://doi.org/10.21608/MJCU.2018.56366
Ermiati, E., Setyawati, A., & Emaliyawati, E. (2018). Foot Massage Modification to Reduce Blood Pressure in Pregnant Woman with Preeclampsia. Jurnal Keperawatan Padjadjaran, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.24198/JKP.V6I2.625
Familia, E. (2025). COMBATING GLOBAL MATERNAL MORTALITY.
Hutcheon, J. A., Lisonkova, S., & Joseph, K. S. (2011). Epidemiology of pre-eclampsia and the other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 25(4), 391–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BPOBGYN.2011.01.006
Kadek, N., Lestari, Y., Made, N., Mahayani, E., Luh, N., & Dewi, P. T. (2023). The Effect of Feet Reflection Massage on Blood Pressure in Hypertension Patients at Community Health Centers II Petang. Nursing and Health Sciences Journal (NHSJ), 3(1), 56–60. https://doi.org/10.53713/NHS.V3I1.151
Kaki, P. P., Penurunan, T., Darah, T., Ibu, P., Dengan, H., Di, H., Yogyakarta, R. S., Mawarti, R., & Zaidah, L. (2019). PENGARUH PIJAT KAKI TERHADAP PENURUNAN TEKANAN DARAH PADA IBU HAMIL DENGAN HIPERTENSI DI RS YOGYAKARTA. MEDIA ILMU KESEHATAN, 8(1), 77–86. https://doi.org/10.30989/MIK.V8I1.261
Liang, X., Wu, S., Li, K., Zhang, H., Yang, F., Wang, X., & Yang, G. (2023a). The effects of reflexology on symptoms in pregnancy: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Heliyon, 9(8), e18442. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.HELIYON.2023.E18442
Liang, X., Wu, S., Li, K., Zhang, H., Yang, F., Wang, X., & Yang, G. (2023b). The effects of reflexology on symptoms in pregnancy: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Heliyon, 9(8), e18442. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.HELIYON.2023.E18442
Madise, N., Nandi, A., Wong, B., & Razvi, S. (2023). Achieving Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Development Goals Effectively: A Cost-Benefit Analysis. Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis, 14(S1), 206–234. https://doi.org/10.1017/BCA.2023.24
Raina, N., Khanna, R., Gupta, S., Jayathilaka, C. A., Mehta, R., & Behera, S. (2023). Progress in achieving SDG targets for mortality reduction among mothers, newborns, and children in the WHO South-East Asia Region. The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia, 18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100307
Saber, F., Mohammed, N., Khalaf Gooda, W., Mostafa, O., Elzaher, A., & Ahmed Abdelhafez, A. (2024a). Effect of Foot Reflexology versus Warm Water Foot Soak with Body Relaxation Techniques on Symptoms and Quality of Life of Preeclampsia. Original Article Egyptian Journal of Health Care, 15(3).
Saber, F., Mohammed, N., Khalaf Gooda, W., Mostafa, O., Elzaher, A., & Ahmed Abdelhafez, A. (2024b). Effect of Foot Reflexology versus Warm Water Foot Soak with Body Relaxation Techniques on Symptoms and Quality of Life of Preeclampsia. Egyptian Journal of Health Care, 15(3), 945–961. https://doi.org/10.21608/EJHC.2024.382656
Siti, U., Sari, C., Yulianti, E., Soedarso, J., Laut, B. B., Tenggara, K. P., Pontianak, K., & Barat, K. (2024). The Effect of Reflexology on Blood Pressure in Pregnant Women with Hypertension. JURNAL KEBIDANAN, 14(1), 54–58. https://doi.org/10.31983/JKB.V14I1.9850
Tan, E. K., & Tan, E. L. (2013). Alterations in physiology and anatomy during pregnancy. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 27(6), 791–802. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BPOBGYN.2013.08.001
Venugopal, V., Yogapriya, C., Deenadayalan, B., Akila, A., Poonguzhali, S., Poornima, R., & Maheshkumar, K. (2023). Foot reflexology for reduction of blood pressure in hypertensive individual: A systematic review. The Foot, 54, 101974. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FOOT.2023.101974
Von Dadelszen, P., & Magee, L. A. (2017). Strategies to reduce the global burden of direct maternal deaths. Obstetric Medicine, 10(1), 5–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1753495X16686287
Warisantika, I., Kusmiyati, Y., & Guna Bangsa Yogyakarta, S. (2024). The Effectiveness of Feet Soak With Warm Water and Feet Massage on Blood Pressure Reduction in Pregnant Women with hypertension: Journal of Health (JoH), 11(02), 128–139. https://doi.org/10.30590/JOH.V11N2.542
Warisantika, I., Kusmiyati, Y., & Sunartono, S. (2024). The Effectiveness of Feet Soak With Warm Water and Feet Massage on Blood Pressure Reduction in Pregnant Women with hypertension. Journal of Health (JoH), 11(02), 128–139. https://doi.org/10.30590/JOH.V11N2.542
wati, M., & Azlina, F. A. (2025). THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FOOT SOOK USING WARM WATER WITH LEMONGRASS ON BLOOD PRESSURE REDUCTION IN MRS. W WITH PREECLAMPSIA IN DESA SUNGAI KITANO, KECAMATAN MARTAPURA TIMUR. JOURNAL of HEALTH, 4(1), 63–66. https://banuainstitute.org/JOHE/article/view/135
Wilkerson, R. G., & Ogunbodede, A. C. (2019). Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, 37(2), 301–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EMC.2019.01.008/ASSET/FE177D8E-FA64-4095-A9C9-B968E2BB2FBF/MAIN.ASSETS/GR1.SML
Yang, J. ming, Li, Z. qin, Ye, H., Wu, Y. lin, Long, Y., Zhong, Y. biao, Luo, Y., & Wang, M. yuan. (2024a). Effects of foot reflexology massage on pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. Scientific Reports, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/S41598-023-51107-Y,
Yang, J. ming, Li, Z. qin, Ye, H., Wu, Y. lin, Long, Y., Zhong, Y. biao, Luo, Y., & Wang, M. yuan. (2024b). Effects of foot reflexology massage on pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/S41598-023-51107-Y;SUBJMETA=477,631,692,700;KWRD=HEALTH+CARE,PSYCHOLOGY
Zulhijjah, S., & Ibrahim, S. W. A. (2024). Pengaruh pemberian akupresur terhadap perubahan tekanan darah pada ibu hamil. Journal of Midwifery Care, 5(1), 152–157. https://doi.org/10.34305/JMC.V5I1.1387