How to Treat Osteoarthritis With Reflexology

Osteoarthritis, which afflicts as many as 21 million Americans, is a degenerative bone disease that affects the neck, lower back, knees, fingers and hips. Many sufferers have found relief through reflexology, an alternative therapy that uses pressure points on the feet to treat a variety of medical issues.

Things You'll Need

• Reflexologist

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Instructions

• 1

  Find a licensed reflexologist that can help you treat your osteoarthritis. Since osteoarthritis, which is the most common type of arthritis, can vary in degree and location, you will need a knowledgeable and experienced reflexology practitioner to identify the correct pressure points on your feet. In addition, a reflexologist may try a number of different approaches to treat your osteoarthritis if you feel pain in multiple locations.

• 2

  Talk with your reflexologist about the pain you are suffering from osteoarthritis. Before treatment can commence, your practitioner will need to know exactly how much pain you feel and how this pain is affecting your quality of life. The reflexologist may also want to review x-rays and your medical history before proceeding.

• 3

  Allow the practitioner to use reflexology to find energy imbalances in your feet that may be the result of osteoarthritis. By stimulating pressure points on the bottom of your feet, a reflexologist will try to increase the energy flow throughout your body, making you feel potentially more relaxed and responsive to treatment.

• 4

  Keep notes on how your body feels every time you receive treatment for your osteoarthritis. While many patients feel euphoric and energetic after seeing a reflexologist, some may also feel lethargy, nausea or dizziness. Note that this is a normal biological reaction, and may just indicate a shift in your equilibrium.

• 5

  Use online resources, such as Find a Reflexologist, to treat your osteoarthritis with reflexology (see Resources below). In addition to finding a reflexologist that is convenient to you, many of these sites also offer additional information about reflexology and how it works. You may even find a mobile reflexologist who can treat you at home, which may come in handy for individuals who are suffering from advances cases of osteoarthritis.