Effects of a Programmed Reflexology Therapy on Sleep Quality, Insomnia, Fatigue, and Heart Rate Variability Among Individuals With Poor Sleep Quality

Effects of a Programmed Reflexology Therapy on Sleep Quality, Insomnia, and Fatigue Among Individuals With Poor Sleep Quality: Evidence for Autonomic Nervous System Modulation

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a structured reflexology therapy can improve sleep, reduce insomnia severity, and alleviate fatigue in adults with poor sleep quality, and to understand how it affects autonomic nervous system function. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Can manual reflexology treatment improve sleep quality as measured by standardized sleep assessments?
• Can manual reflexology influence physiological measures of autonomic function (such as heart rate and heart rate variability)?

Researchers will compare the effects of a manual reflexology intervention to those of a mechanical foot massage to determine which approach is more effective in improving sleep, reducing insomnia severity, and enhancing fatigue and autonomic balance.

Participants will be asked to:

• Undergo weekly sessions of manual reflexology therapy for six weeks, and
• Undergo weekly sessions using mechanical foot massage equipment for six weeks, with heart rate, heart rate variability, and sleep and fatigue questionnaires measured before and after each intervention period.

Poor sleep quality is a common health concern associated with impaired autonomic nervous system regulation and increased risk of physical and psychological disorders. Complementary therapies, such as foot reflexology, are widely used to promote relaxation and improve sleep; however, evidence regarding their physiological effects and comparative effectiveness remains limited. This study was designed to examine whether a structured manual reflexology treatment can improve sleep-related outcomes and autonomic nervous system function in adults with poor sleep quality, compared with mechanical foot massage.

Participants enrolled in this study undergo two different foot-based interventions-manual reflexology treatment and mechanical foot massage-delivered in separate intervention periods. Each intervention period lasts six weeks, with one session per week. The order of interventions is assigned using a randomized crossover design, allowing each participant to receive both treatments while minimizing individual differences.

Manual reflexology sessions are delivered by a trained practitioner following a standardized and reproducible protocol, which targets specific foot reflex zones associated with relaxation and autonomic regulation. Mechanical foot massage sessions are conducted using commercially available foot massage equipment under standardized conditions. Both interventions are designed to be non-invasive and well tolerated.

Throughout the study, participants' physiological responses are monitored using non-invasive measures of heart rate and heart rate variability, which provide insight into autonomic nervous system activity. In addition, participants complete validated questionnaires assessing sleep quality, insomnia severity, and fatigue. By comparing changes observed after each intervention, this study aims to clarify whether manual reflexology offers added benefits over mechanical massage and to explore the potential role of autonomic modulation in improving sleep-related outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. . Aged between 40 and 80 years.
2. . Had no prior experience with, or had not regularly received, feet massage treatments.
3. . Had a global score greater than 10 on the PSQI, indicating poor sleep quality.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. . Presence of bacterial or viral infections on the feet.
2. . Acute infectious diseases, bleeding or coagulation disorders, psychiatric conditions, open wounds, or bone fractures.
3. . Conditions such as extreme fatigue, physical weakness, alcohol intoxication, or long-term bedridden status that prevented attendance at the study site.
4. . Lower limb amputation or significant limb deficiency.
5. . Employment involving rotating or shift work.