26/05/2026
Osteoarthritis can affect far more than the joint itself. For many people, it can interfere with walking, bending, climbing stairs, getting dressed, sleeping well, and simply moving through the day with ease.
One study published in Advances in Rehabilitation looked at the effects of foot reflexology in 20 people with osteoarthritis of the hip joint. Participants received a series of 8 reflexology sessions, and their pain, stiffness and daily function were assessed before and after using recognised measures including the WOMAC questionnaire and the Numerical Rating Scale.
After the sessions, researchers reported improvements in average WOMAC scores, reduced pain intensity, improved function in everyday activities, a reduction in reported use of pain medication, and improved sleep quality among participants.
This adds to the growing conversation around reflexology as a supportive, complementary therapy - especially for people managing ongoing discomfort, reduced mobility, stress and the day-to-day impact of chronic conditions.
Reflexology works gently, with the whole person in mind. And that support matters.
Source: Kielar et al., “The effects of reflexology on joint pain and disability in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip joints,” Advances in Rehabilitation.
