Real,World Consequences of Reflexology Research

Real,World Consequences of Reflexology Research. 

Reflexology research has the power to inform about possibilities for not only the medical community but also reflexologists. Research provides the power of possibilities about what reflexology can do. 

The prognosis for 80 year old Dawn was not good on that Wednesday. The stroke she had experienced was described as “massive” by the consultant following assessment of a scan of her brain showing the injured area. She was not expected to survive the next 24 hours. If she did it was predicted she would be paralyzed on the left half of her body with the potential loss of sight and hearing abilities. One option was making Dawn “comfortable in a side room and giving her morphine."

It’s some sixty days later and Dawn walks out of a rehabilitation facility for outside visits and will return home in the weeks to come. There are some lingering effects of her stroke but the doctor says it should be no problem for her to do things like walk up stairs.

The happy ending to Dawn’s story started with her daughter Gayle’s decision to hold her mother’s hand to comfort her while waiting assessment in the UK hospital’s A & E (Accident and Emergency) stroke unit. It then occurred to Gayle to apply reflexology while holding her hand. Using knowledge gained as a reflexology student and encouraged by reported results of fMRI research (Neural Pathways of Applied Reflexology) with stroke patients, she was determined to use reflexology to help her mother.

Progress was evaluated day by day. On Thursday the consultant saw no progress discounting as spasming Gayle’s reports of her mother moving in response to reflexology application. He decided to extend care another day swayed by, as Gayle tells it, I think he felt sorry for us. She and her two sisters took turns staying by their mother’s bed around the clock. On Friday, perhaps swayed by blood pressure readings, he again made the decision to extend care. 

Next came what Gayle describes as their lucky break, a doctor’s strike started Friday evening. She says, "So there were a lack of doctors anyway to deal with anything, so you didn't have to. So, thank God, we realized, like, you know, just to keep this going, keep this going.

It was just after midnight early that Saturday morningwith Gayle, taking a break and with her sister Hayley at their mother’s bedside. Dawn turned and said, Hi, Hay. Dawn was awake. She had recognized her daughter Hayley’s voice.

On Monday, the family could report to the consultant, Dawn had spoken. Hospital care could continue. Gayle’s reflexology work continued. A stay at a rehabilitation facility followed with the expectation that Dawn will return to her life.

Note: While this is a wonderful story it isn’t a scientific fact. It is considered anecdotal evidence.  To make a factual case for using reflexology as a tool for stroke recovery we need the data to support this effort. 

Join the Effort to Finish the fMRI Research Project

What are the study’s scientists saying about the progress of the foot reflexology and fMRI research project, Neural Pathways of Applied Reflexology? 

It’s the best possible news. The scientists are so enthusiastic about preliminary results they are mapping a path forward to demonstrate that reflexology can be a science. 

What can you do to help? Help us raise the $10,000 needed to finish analysis of the brain scans acquired during the research. Donate here to the non-profit UNM Fund - Neural Pathways of Applied Reflexology https://www.unmfund.org/fund/npar-fund/

Finishing analysis will lead to an article published in a scientific journal. Such proof of results facilitates the next step, application for grant money from the National Institute of Health for another study. Finally, a study including a large number of subjects will help,establish reflexology as a science.

 

Baby Brains and Foot Reflexology

 

Baby Brains and Foot Reflexology 

An apple a day keeps the doctor away or so the saying goes. But what happens to a young baby who receives foot reflexology almost every day? The answer: enhanced activation in parts of the brain. 

That’s the conclusion of researchers who followed an infant’s progress with fMRI brain scans in a recently reported case study. While researchers were testing for improvements in hearing for a limited application of reflexology, they found activation in parts of the brain (see below) were enhanced for the infant receiving foot reflexology compared to infants who did not. 

An infant was diagnosed with hearing impairment, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), at three months of age. Chinese researchers used fMRI brain scans to follow the progress of the infant who received 30 minutes of reflexology applied to both big toes, five days a week for 24 weeks. At the conclusion of the study the baby at nine months of age was tested to have normal hearing. 

Such results raise the question: what would happen if foot reflexology was to be applied to the whole baby foot every day? A better start on life for the little one?

“Conclusion: This study demonstrated that foot reflexology benefits infants with SNHL. The activation of auditory areas and hubs of the language network, such as the middle temporal gyrus, thalamus, and frontal cortex, was enhanced by foot reflexology (in contrast to infants in a non-reflexology control group). In contrast, the activation of the occipital cortex was decreased. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report physiological evidence that foot reflexology affects infants with SNHL.” (https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-2710677/v1)

New title: Reflexology and Mechanical Ventilation

Why write a book about reflexology research and mechanical ventilation? I couldn’t help myself. The search for information was so fascinating. The results showing what reflexology could do were so dramatic.

It started when we were working with neuroscientist Dr. Stefan Posse of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine preparing for research, finding out what happens as foot reflexology is applied during brain scans, fMRI imaging. Stefan had asked about reflexology research of medical topics. I started looking.

I discovered 75 to 80 studies of reflexology applied to hospital patients from the maternity ward, the cardiac care unit and beyond. It was, however, the height of the Covid pandemic and the sight of patients on mechanical ventilation filled the news and evoked all sorts of emotions from empathy to dread. I zeroed in on the studies I had found about ICU patients on mechanical ventilation following surgery or hospitalized for various causes.

There in the research was a surprise: reflexology got people off ventilators sooner. Amazing. How? Why? 

I kept going. I would discover a lot. How surgery, mechanical ventilation and hospitalization present life-threatening problems. The anxieties faced by patients. The challenges facing critical care nurses. What is important to help patients survive. 

I found out more, more about reflexology itself. All those things we reflexologists know are right and were reaffirmed. Yes, reflex areas do matter. Yes, selecting the right reflex areas does matter. That, yes, dosing, the appropriate amount of reflexology does matter. 

Then there was, why would this be? How and why would reflexology help in such a critical situation? It all went back to: how does reflexology work? There are answers to those questions, fun to explore.

And, finally, it occurred to me: these studies had more to say. More to say about how reflexology provides the opportunity for us to help: help our clients, ourselves and virtually anyone with a health concern.

 

Yes, this is a book about reflexology research of patients supported by mechanical ventilation. But sometimes, when you least expect it, you get more than you could have ever imagined. 

Barbara Kunz

 Get your copy now https://a.co/d/6awLMQZ or https://books2read.com/u/bx6VLl

Incredible News!!!

 

Incredible news!!! We just learned that the fMRI Study is funded to pay for the data analysis. And we have some amazing talent to perform the analysis. 

There are 82,000 to 83,000 images to analyze. It will take probably until February or March to get the results. 

We can’t wait to see the results. And I imagine you all feel the same. It has been a long road but we are almost there!! 

And this would not have been possible without your active support. Privately funded research projects are fairly rare. But we did it. Be proud. 

We are providing validation and credibility for our beloved Reflexology. It also will give us an insight into clinical applications beginning with stroke. 

But please we can use your continued support. We will be needing to raise fund the research team’s trip to Singapore upon acceptance of our findings. Barbara and I will be co-authors on the paper presented to the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. 

We also want to continue our clinical exploration. What would you like to see explored?

Enough talk about money. Time to celebrate all out  of our success. Your thoughts?

Please share this with your friends. 

Neural Pathways of Applied Reflexology https://www.unmfund.org/fund/npar-fund/

 Research: Arthritis and Paraffin Wax Use

Research found use of the paraffin waxer fifteen minutes a day for three weeks with hands dipped 10 times into the wax results in significant improvements after for those with arthritic hands:

• significant improvements in hands pain and stiffness when the hands were at rest

• significant improvement in pain during activities of daily living

• significant improvement in range of motion

• significantly higher grip and pinch strength

• significant decrease in the number of painful and tender joints

• significant improvement in pain at rest and during ADL, ROM (range of motion) of the right hand, and pain and stiffness dimensions of the AUSCAN (pain, disability and joint stiffness in hand osteoarthritis)

In other words, “Those who used the paraffin wax experienced more pain relief and stronger hands compared to those who did not use the paraffin wax. Overall, the group using the hot wax treatments seemed to have a little easier time doing all those mundane daily activities like buttoning shirts and tying shoelaces. “ (http://www.healthcentral.com/ osteoarthritis/c/240381/160434/treatments-arthritic/)

 Medical applications of Reflexology:: Findings in Research about Cancer Care https://amzn.eu/d/3J2QpNY

How much reflexology technique application is needed to create a particular result? One of the benefits of research is such “dosing” information. 

The value of such information is seen for cancer patients in research by pioneering researcher Dr. Nancy Stephenson of Eastern North Carolina University. In one of her studies a single session reflexologist administered of thirty minutes was found to be the dosing time to significantly decrease pain and anxiety for  breast and lung cancer patient. In a ground breaking study for partner delivered reflexology, Dr. Stephenson found patients receiving thirty minutes sessions administered three times a week at home by a partner experienced a significant decrease in pain intensity (37%) and anxiety (62%).

Among information detailed in Medical Applications Reflexology: Findings in Research about Cancer Care on page 28 is the protocol followed in Dr. Stephenson’s partner delivered reflexology research. 

The Future of Reflexology

 Dear Fellow Reflexologists,

I have been sitting here thinking about all you wonderful reflexologists out there. The amazing efforts you all make each and ever day keeps us going.

The fMRI study Is just the beginning of a journey into becoming  a trusted and recognized science. 

There is a lot of research out there on reflexology. Good research. But so far little or no reaction from the medical or scientific communities.

But for some reason this study seems to be a tipping point. It has fired up the reflexologists imagination. It has even gotten attention from the medical and scientific communities. We feel momentum worldwide like we have never felt before. Exciting!!!

On the other hand I feel the impatience of reflexologists to get their approach’s or techniques recognized. They are coming to us as though our opinion matters. 

We need to move away from opinion and towards facts. That is how we become a true science. 

We have our own biases. That is why it is important to test and retest.  It isn’t just one approach. And it is important to look far and wide at as many approaches as we can. And some will make the cut and some frankly won’t. That’s science.

It should not be our approach alone. That would curtail innovation and creativity.  There could be widespread use of technology to validate and verify different approaches.  Many universities and many researchers could be involved.

There are very strict rules when testing subjects. We need to mirror these concerns with our approaches. 

We need to develop ethical standards to embrace safety to the public as our highest priority. So each new approach should be look at for safety, efficacy, mechanism of action and cost effectiveness.

Someday hopefully you will be sitting in that chair at the fMRI scanner waiting to start your own adventure. 

For me it was a great privilege and honor to be a part of this. (I have to admit hearing Barbara’s voice calling out the time over the headphones and seeing Stefan at the controls helped steady my nerves.)

We all can be players in the validation of the power of reflexology.  You too could be adding your discoveries to the systematic body of knowledge called Reflexology. And giving your gifts to the world.

Thank you for your service.

With love and respect,

Kevin

Lynne Booth’s statement about the fMRI Research Project

 

Thought this might be of interest.

Fantastic response from our Irish colleagues. I shall encourage all VRT practitioners on my mailing list. I have attended the RiEN conference in Yecla, Spain this week.  I heard an inspirational presentation from Kevin, Barbara, and Stefan. This level of exciting MRI research could give reflexology an incredible scientific platform judging by the early indications. Kevin says: If every reflexologist chipped in  $10 now then the reflexology project to examine the scans would be funded for the year! Lynne Booth VRT

https://gofund.me/4ba5fbc7

Neural Pathways of Applied Reflexology 

https://www.unmfund.org/fund/npar-fund/

The Future of Reflexology

Another interesting meeting with the lead investigator of the fMRI study, Dr  Stefan Posse. We talked about the future and the potential for becoming a recognized and acknowledged science. 

I asked if we could develop a method to test the various approaches of reflexology. No problem according to Dr. Posse. 

We are learning at this point a methodology that could used to test and verify different approaches. And we can make this a global effort with other universities coming onboard. 

We can also test the effects of reflexology on a wide range of disorders. It is an unlimited list. 

We are responding to your input and designing the next series of fMRI scans around stroke. The revised protocol for stroke is about done in record time.

We need your help. We need to hire what is called a post doc to analyze this data from the proof of concept part of this research project (phase 2). 

In order to enter the medical world we need proof of concept evidence. The data right now is just sitting there. So if we are to complete the phase 2 of this research project we need you. If you have donated thank you. If you have thought about donating please give now. 

The faster we get phase 2 analyzed the faster we get what Dr. Posse called valuable and beautiful data into the mainstream of medicine. And the faster we get reflexology moving towards it true potential to help heal this planet on a global level. 

Thank you

Kevin Kunz 

Neural Pathways of Applied Reflexology https://www.unmfund.org/fund/npar-fund/

Irish Reflexologist’s Institue’s GoFund me page

https://gofund.me/4ba5fbc7

Research to Begin: Neural Pathways in Applied Reflexology Underway

The research study Neural Pathways in Applied Reflexology is about to begin.

Money has been raised to conduct the first phase of the study. Thanks to all of those who so generously contributed following fund raising in spring 2021.

The research is lead by neuroscientist Dr. Stefan Posse at University of New Mexico (UNM) Medical School’s Human Brain Imaging Research Laboratory. (https://vivo.health.unm.edu/display/n302957944) Reflexology knowledge and application is provided by Barbara and Kevin Kunz. All three are volunteering their efforts. Our thanks to the non-profit UNM Foundation for administering the donations.

Studied in real time by fMRI will be what happens in the brains of research participants as reflexology is applied to a specific reflex area of their feet. Neuroscientists will then assess the resulting images to determine which parts of the participants’ brains respond to the stimulation of reflexology.

What has happened so far:

• Fund raising goals met

• The protocol drawn up

• The protocol has been approved by the IRB (Institutional Research Board) of the School of Medicine, University of New Mexico. A neurologist served as an expert adviser to the IRB.

• Pursuant to being included as authors of the study, Barbara and Kevin Kunz have completed training as Biomedical Research Investigators as well as in Conflict of Interest as required by the School of Medicine, University of New Mexico.

Recruiting of study participants is the next step.

In a second clinical phase of the research, brain imaging will be followed with study participants who experience a specific health concern.

Neural Pathways of Applied Reflexology https://www.unmfund.org/fund/npar-fund/

The Importance of Research and Education in Reflexology

v

Kevin Kunz is pleased to be among 14 speakers presenting:

The Importance of Research and Education in Reflexology

April 19 to 24, 2021

11th European Reflexology Conference 

organised by the 

French Federation of Reflexologists 

for the 

European Reflexology in Europe Nexus (RIEN)

Delayed by a year due to Covid but now coming to you 

on-line with the program presented in 

English and French languages

Details and how to sign up here:

https://11th-european-conference-of-reflexology-paris-910.jimdosite.com/english-homepage/ 

The talks will be available on-line from April 19-23, 2021. 

On April 24, 9 am to 12 noon (3 am to 6 am EDT in the US) 3 live debate sessions will be presented by the speakers moderated by David Whatley. Included will be openings and closings by Eduardo Luis (President of RIEN) and  Elise Manzoni (President of French Federation of Reflexologists). 

Speakers

Nancy Klein 

Introduction from research WG: Understanding Reflexology and  Research 

Judith Whatley 

Stronger Together: Reflexology & Research 

Emeline Deschamps 

What is the effectiveness of Reflexology? Can we study it?   

Lee  Anthony Taylor 

Measuring our  Successes in Reflex Therapy 

Lambros  Stravelakis 

Introducing https://Reflexology.Report ! How  to  make  scientific  Research  about  Reflexology available to all Reflexologists  

Vera Krijn 

The Importance of Research in Reflexology 

Sue Alma  Evans 

Research  pilot  on  the  use  of  duopody  Reflexology  to reduce  chronic  pain,  prescribed  opioid  medication and  GP visits in south west  Cardiff, Wales. 

Abad José  Manuel   

The importance of research in Reflexology

Christine Bretin 

The implementation of combined Reflexotherapy in Oncology. 

Kevin Kunz 

The Future of Reflexology 

Nico Pauly 

The emotional conversation between the organs and the limbic system. Meet zonal Reflexology and nerve Reflexology

Heinrike Bergmans 

Stress and Trauma  Sensitive Reflexology start of research

Orlando Volpe 

Cerebral cortex and its functions 

Gbadessi  Didier Jacques 

Reflexology and cerebrovascular accidents  (stroke) in Benin 

Patricia Torossian 

Reflexology applied to Alzheimer’s disease, my method 

Anne Marmagne 

The interest of Reflexology during pregnancy 

 Ben  Abdeslam / Hanan 

Research and the importance of reflexology during the perinatal period 

Lilian  Gautheron 

Abstract Dyspepsia, opening of the aorto-mesenteric narrowing and podal Reflexology 2.

 

Roots of Research- Neural Pathways of Applied Reflexology

Roots of Research

Neural Pathways of Applied Reflexology

Over the millennial, with a history dating back thousands of years, reflexologists have produced results, creating healthy outcomes.

It’s now research time, time to answer questions about why this would be.

For us it’s been forty years in the making but it’s a goal all reflexologists want. At least that was what 100% of those responding to a questionnaire said when asked. Forty years ago reflexologists said, yes, about the statement, “They could discover how reflexology works if they tried.” It’s about to happen.

We are pleased to work with Dr. Stefan Posse, neuroscientist at the Human Brain MR Imaging Research Laboratory University of New Mexico School of Medicine, to explore the “Neuro Pathways of Applied Reflexology,” exploring proving the concept of reflexology, using fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) brain scan. The research is administered by the non-profit University of New Mexico Foundation.

The intended research is a search for an honest, straight forward answer to why reflexologists create such results.

We’ve been looking for the answer for years, decades actually our entire careers. Our interest is to close the circle on a search that started early in our reflexology careers. One event lead to our dedication to the search. See below.

Dr. Posse’s interest? Just as we reflexologists are interested in the foot and what it has to say, neuroscientists are interested in the brain and what it has to say. The brain scan provides such information.

In technical terms Dr. Posse notes:

“There is an urgent need to characterize the biological substrates (the part of the central nervous system, i.e., brain and spinal cord that underlies a specific behavior, cognitive process, or psychological state)* and mechanisms of reflexology. Functional MRI is uniquely positioned to answer questions about brain regions stimulated during reflexology, synchronization of brain activity and the role of the limbic system in conveying benefits to the patient. (The limbic system is a set of structures in the brain that deal with emotions and memory. It regulates autonomic or endocrine function in response to emotional stimuli and also is involved in reinforcing behavior.)*

“The real-time fMRI technology developed at the University of New Mexico in the Human Brain Imaging Research Laboratory is uniquely suitable for mapping with high sensitivity and specificity the entire connectome (the system of neural pathways in a brain or nervous system, considered collectively)* associated with the application of reflexology. This includes brain activation and brain connectivity and changes thereof during stimulation of different body parts using reflexology. Mapping activation and connectivity during the fMRI scan enables monitoring of data quality and experimental feedback to the subject with the goal of enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment.”

*Material in parentheses is our addition.

Roots of Research

The roots of this project for us date to forty years ago and our work with a paralyzed clientele.

“Jimmy, are you moving your fingers?” It was a question asked of a client during the course of simultaneous hand and foot reflexology sessions.

His answer was, “No, Kevin is.”

For any client this was a different response to reflexology work. Since Jimmy was a quadriplegic, this, movement of fingers, was not supposed to happen under any circumstances. And why would he say Kevin had caused it?

It turned out, Kevin’s reflexology work on a particular reflex area of the left foot had prompted movement of the fingers of Jimmy’s right hand.

Jimmy’s answer lead us to a search for answers and an eventual hypothesis for the question, how does reflexology work and, many years later, research with Dr. Posse.

Why would this be?

The question became why: why would movement of fingers be prompted by reflexology work? A similar phenomena was observed as we worked with two additional paralyzed clients both paraplegic. The movement prompted by reflexology work to the same reflex area of the foot was of the opposite foot. Also observed with all three clients were effects on the internal workings of the body: sweating, grumbling of the intestines and shivering with reports of no sensation of cold.

As we would discover, pressure whether prompted by a footstep or reflexology technique application creates a reflex response throughout the body. Such a simple answer now adopted as a cornerstone the the reflexology definition. It was a year in the making.

Kevin had been studying in detail how a footstep happens. Barbara was studying the nervous system.

Kevin recognized the change in movement by the paraplegic clients as time went on. After six months both clients reflexology work prompted movement of their feet as a segment of taking a footstep.

Barbara discovered the concept of proprioception. Proprioception is the body’s ability to sense pressure, stretch and movement. Especially important is deep pressure to the bottoms of the feet. It was a Eureka moment.

Putting the two together, the footstep and the ability of the foot to sense pressure, we saw our reflexology work had tapped into deep pressure sensors in the bottoms of the feet, stimulating a part of the body’s walking mechanism.

As we found out, internal organs work together with pressure sensors in the feet. Think of the fight or flight response. In time of danger, the adrenal glands respond as do other activities of the internal mechanism. The feet stand ready to do their part. Such responses go on day and night as our bodies respond to what we do. Pressure sensors in the feet contribute to whole body communication whether one is sitting or standing or walking, each requiring a different level of energy expenditure.

The results produced by the work of reflexologists over millennia is created by this coordination within the nervous system of the internal organs (autonomic nervous system) and the ability to move (motor nervous system).

This was and is our hypothesis. The word pressure has subsequently been adopted into many definitions of reflexology. Effects on the autonomic nervous system is seen as a viable model of how reflexology works. After more than forty years we look forward to seeing it tested