THE ESSENTIAL
- Menopause usually occurs between 45 and 55 years old, with an average around 50 years old.
- During the transition to menopause, estrogen deficiency can cause hot flashes, vaginal dryness, headaches and anxiety.
- Only 8-10% of postmenopausal women take hormone therapy.
Stimulate blood circulation, relieve the joints, restore a nervous balance… Plantar reflexology, consisting of massaging the different areas of the feet, has many health benefits. Recently, Turkish scientists revealed that this type of massage was effective in improving sleep quality and reducing anxiety in postmenopausal women. To reach this conclusion, the researchers carried out work published in the journal Menopause.
One hour more sleep per day thanks to a foot massage
As part of this study, they recruited 70 women who lived in a village located in northern Turkey. They were divided into two groups: 35 participants benefited from reflexology sessions once a day for 7 days and 35 volunteers did not have their feet massaged. During the research, the patients had to answer a questionnaire on the symptoms caused by the menopause.
According to the results, a foot massage can help decrease a number of common symptoms of menopause, including sleep disturbances. According to the team, reflexology sessions during menopause increase daily sleep duration – up to an hour a day – and reduce women’s levels of fatigue and anxiety.
Foot massage: “a simple and inexpensive procedure”
“Sleep disturbances, fatigue and anxiety symptoms are common during menopause. This study shows how a simple, inexpensive intervention like foot massage can improve these bothersome symptoms in postmenopausal women. Although more studies are needed to confirm these results, there are few downsides to recommending foot massage as a non-hormonal option to help relieve symptoms.” said Stéphanie Faubion, medical director of The North American Menopause Society, in a statement.