Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026
Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
Published on: December 20, 2011
The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Acute Pain in Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial
1Istanbul University, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Pediatric Nursing Department, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Foot reflexology significantly reduced infant pain after vaccinations. This non-invasive method also improved infant heart rate and oxygen saturation, offering a promising approach to pain management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Pain Management
- Complementary Medicine
Background:
- Infant vaccination is associated with acute pain.
- Effective pain management strategies for infants post-vaccination are crucial.
- Non-pharmacological interventions are increasingly explored for infant pain relief.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of foot reflexology in reducing acute pain in infants following vaccination.
- To assess the impact of pre-vaccination reflexology on infant pain levels.
- To compare physiological responses, including heart rate and oxygen saturation, between reflexology and control groups.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 60 infants aged 1-12 months.
- Infants were divided into two groups: reflexology (n=30) and control (n=30).
- The Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) Pain Assessment Scale was used to measure pain, alongside heart rate and oxygen saturation monitoring.
Main Results:
- Foot reflexology administered before vaccination significantly reduced post-vaccination pain scores (p = .000).
- Infants in the reflexology group exhibited lower FLACC pain scores (5.47 ± 2.11) compared to the control group (9.63 ± .85).
- The reflexology group also showed improved physiological outcomes, including lower heart rates, higher oxygen saturation, and shorter crying durations (p <.001).
Conclusions:
- Pre-vaccination foot reflexology is an effective intervention for reducing acute pain in infants.
- Reflexology offers a safe and beneficial complementary approach to manage post-vaccination distress in infants.
- Further research into diverse interventional practices for infant pain management is warranted.
Aim:
This study was a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effect of foot reflexology applied on infants on acute pain that may arise after vaccine injection.
Methods:
The sample consisted of 1- to 12-month-old infants registered in a family health center in Istanbul, Turkey, for healthcare follow-up. A total of 60 infants who met the criteria of the sample group were included in the study; 30 infants constituted the reflexology group and the other 30 constituted the control group. Although questionnaire forms were used to determine the descriptive characteristics of infant-mother pairs, the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) Pain Assessment Scale was used to evaluate pain level. Infants in the reflexology group received reflexology treatment for an average of 20-30 minutes before vaccination, depending on the physical size of the infant's foot. Pain, heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, and crying periods of infants in the reflexology and control groups were evaluated before and after vaccination.
Results:
The FLACC pain score was observed to be statistically similar between groups. After reflexology was applied to infants in the reflexology group before vaccination, it was determined that the pain score was reduced to .50 ± 1.14. In the examination performed after vaccination, FLACC pain score was found to be 5.47 ± 2.11 in the reflexology group and 9.63 ± .85 in the control group. A statistically significant difference was observed between the mean FLACC pain scores of infants in the reflexology and control groups (p = .000). The infants in the reflexology group also had lower heart rates, higher oxygen saturation, and shorter crying periods than the infants in the control group (p <.001).
Linking Evidence To Actions:
Reflexology before vaccine reduced the pain level experienced after vaccination. Future research needs to explore different interventional practices.
More Related Videos
06:04Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex
Published on: July 4, 2018
06:29Electrophysiological Measurement of Noxious-evoked Brain Activity in Neonates Using a Flat-tip Probe Coupled to Electroencephalography
Published on: November 29, 2017
