---
title: Does foot reflexology with relaxation training reduce premenstrual symptoms in young women?
description: Yes, adding foot reflexology to relaxation training significantly reduced PMS symptoms more than relaxation training alone.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/do-foot-reflexology-and-relaxation-trainingdecrease-premenstrual-symptoms-in-2016/
---

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- Does foot reflexology with relaxation training reduce premenstrual symptoms in young women?

Randomised trial, 2016

# Does foot reflexology with relaxation training reduce premenstrual symptoms in young women?

Yes, adding foot reflexology to relaxation training significantly reduced PMS symptoms more than relaxation training alone.

 Moderate study design

50 university students aged 19-23 with PMS in Cairo, Egypt

## What they did

50 university students aged 19-23 with PMS were randomly divided into two groups of 25. Group A received foot reflexology plus relaxation training twice a week for 8 weeks. Group B received relaxation training only, twice a week for 8 weeks. Before and after, researchers measured heart rate, breathing rate, cortisol hormone levels, and daily symptom reports.

## What they found

Both groups improved. Group A (reflexology plus relaxation) had highly significant decreases in heart rate, breathing rate, cortisol level, and symptom scores (p<0.001). Group B (relaxation only) also improved but less significantly (p<0.05).

## What it means for you

Adding foot reflexology to relaxation training may provide extra benefit for PMS in young women. Study was small and only included college students in one city, so findings may not apply to all women.

50

women studied

8

weeks of treatment

25

women per group

## About the study

Original title Do Foot Reflexology and Relaxation Trainingdecrease Premenstrual Symptoms in Adolescent Females Authors Marwa Abd El-Rahman Mohamed, Asmaa M. El-Bandrawy, Amir A. Gabr Journal International Journal of Physiotherapy Year 2016 Study design Randomised trial Participants 50 What was tested Foot reflexology plus relaxation training twice weekly for 8 weeks Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.15621/ijphy/2016/v3i5/117433](https://doi.org/10.15621/ijphy/2016/v3i5/117433)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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