Reflexology improves varicose veins surgery experience

Reflexology reduces anxiety and the duration of pain, during local anaesthetic surgery for varicose veins. This is the conclusion of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) performed at The Whiteley Clinic. The trial is soon to be published in the peer reviewed International Journal of Nursing Studies (see: Link to Article).

The Impact of Hand Reflexology on Pain, Anxiety and Satisfaction During Minimally Invasive Surgery Under Local Anaesthetic: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Reflexology Reduced Anxiety during Varicose Veins Surgery:

The main conclusion of the study was that hand reflexology reduced anxiety during the surgery. The patients were all undergoing “state of the art” endovenous surgery for varicose veins using The Whiteley Protocol^®. All patients were treated under local anaesthetic as walk-in walk-out patients, as has been normal at The Whiteley Clinic since 2005.

The reduction of intra-operative anxiety was statistically significant.

Reflexology Reduced Pain Duration during Varicose Veins Surgery:

A second finding was a reduction in the duration of pain from the procedure. Although the pain felt during local anaesthetic varicose vein surgery was already very low, the addition of hand reflexology during surgery reduced the duration of any pain that was felt.

It was because the pain level was so low from The Whiteley Clinic varicose veins treatment, that a reduction in the total pain level could not be measured.

Reflexology for The Whiteley Clinic Varicose Veins Patients:

Because of the significant findings from this study, all patients being treated for varicose veins at The Whiteley Clinic at Bond Street London are able to book Jade Davidson for Hand Reflexology during their surgery.

We are now trying to introduce similar services to all of the The Whiteley Clinic in the UK.

The Authors:

The trial was conducted by Dr Briony Hudson PhD, using patients treated at The Whiteley Clinic.

All of the reflexology in the study was performed by Jade Davidson, an expert reflexologist from Rosey Feet (See Jade Davidson’s website – Rosey Feet)

All of the patients were operated on by Professor Mark Whiteley, using EVLT (endovenous laser treatment), phlebectomies (if needed) and TRLOP (TRansLuminal Occlusion of Perforators) (if needed).

Sponsor:

This study was part of the Briony Hudson’s PhD which was sponsored by The Whiteley Clinic and was awarded and supervised through The University of Surrey.

References:

Article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.07.009

Jade Davidson Reflexologist (Rosey Feet): http://roseyfeet.co.uk/about-jade/hand-reflexology-a-study-by-jade-davidson/