Research Studies Evaluating the Effectiveness of
Reflexology in Urinary System Conditions

1. URETERIC COLIC AND ZONE THERAPY
   By Baekgard, Niels and Vibe-Hansen, Henrik. Ugeskr. Laeg. 1981, 143, 676-678.
   
   Attempts were made to assess the effects of zone therapy on patients with acute ureteric colic (pain caused by kidney stones). The material comprised 30 patients distributed equally in a therapeutic group and two control groups. Relief of pain could be demonstrated after zone therapy. Compared to an ordinary analgesic, BaralginO, relief of pain was more rapid but had a shorter duration.

2. REFLEXOLOGY USE IN URETER AND KIDNEY STONE ATTACKS
   By Baekgard, Niels and Vibe-Hansen, Henrik. Glostrup County Hospital
   Reported by Leila Ericksen, FDZ Research Committee, "Zoneterapeutin" No. 6, 1993.
   This paper describes the preceding research study.

3. REFLEXOLOGY RESEARCH INTO ENURESIS NOCTURNAE/BEDWETTING 1 & 2
   By Krogsgaard, Dorte; Poulsen, Edith; Kyhl, Torben; Bo Lund, Jens; and, Eriksen, Leila.
   
   Twenty children, aged 5 - 10 years, who had a minimum of 3 night time bed wettings per week were treated with foot reflexology alone. Thirty-minute treatments were administered twice weekly for four weeks (with a minimum of 2 days between treatments), followed by weekly treatments for seven weeks. Parents filled out an observation questionnaire during treatment and for one month following treatment. Of the twenty, eighteen completed treatment. A decrease in the night time amount of urine was reported by 43.8% of the parents, and 23.5% moved from the category of "soaking wet" to "a little wet". Upon conclusion of treatment, one boy was completely dry. For one month after the conclusion of treatment the effects were maintained, and one boy and one girl were completely dry, also one boy was almost dry. Some parents reported a change in their child's sleep pattern:- now the child would awaken upon urination, which they previously had not done.

4. FOOT REFLEXOLOGY AS AN ACCESSORY TREATMENT AFTER EXTERNAL LITHOTRITY, A CLINICAL OBSERVATION OF 46 CASES
   By Ying Xiaojian and Chen Yihua, People's Hospital of Lishui City, Zhejiang Province
   
   Forty-six patients suffering from renal stones and ureter stones (kidney stones), from 6 mm to 10 mm in diameter, were treated with 45 minute foot reflexology (FR) sessions comprised the treatment group, and, were compared to 50 patients with equivalent size stones who were not treated with FR, in a control group. B-scan and X-ray examinations were used for diagnosis. Foot reflexology was applied on the second day after the stones were broken with a lithoclast. The commencement and completion of excretion of stones was charted. Charts display an expedited commencement and completion of the excretion process for the FR treatment group. The treatment strategy is described and a theoretical explanation proposes that foot reflexology accelerates renal secretion and fluent micturition to help the excretion of fragmental stones.

5. BEDWETTING
   A 1990 Australian study reported in the International Council of Reflexologists Newsletter, February 1994.
   
   Forty-two patients, aged 4 - 12 years, were given reflexology treatment a minimum of two sessions per week. The minimum number of sessions was ten, and the maximum was twenty. No change was noticed until after the tenth treatment. The result showed that by the twentieth session there was either less urination in urine volume or less incidence of wetting in 29 (70%) of the cases.

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