Foot rubs may tune up your diaphragm, scientists say
NCT ID NCT04661774
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether foot reflexology—a type of massage on specific foot zones—can affect how the diaphragm works. Thirty healthy adults received both reflexology and a sham massage while researchers measured brain activity, breathing rate, and heart rate. The goal was to find measurable signs (biomarkers) that reflexology has a specific effect on the diaphragm, which could lead to new non-drug treatments for breathing problems.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- reflexology massage
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help identify biomarkers for reflexology's effect on breathing, potentially guiding future non-drug therapies for diaphragm dysfunction.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in 30 healthy adults, not patients. Results may not apply to people with diaphragm problems, and the effect may be no better than a regular foot massage.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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30 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2020
- Finished
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May 2021
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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20 to 40 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult aged 20 to 40 * Healthy right-handed subject, attested by a score ≥ 8/10 on the Edinburgh manual laterality questionnaire * Naive subject in Reflexology. Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindication to carrying out the MRI examination * Subject refusing to be informed of any abnormality detected on brain MRI, * Subject presenting a neurodegenerative disease, * Subject presenting a cardiac disease, * Subject presenting skin lesions in the feet or recent fracture in the feet, * Subject having an history of phlebitis less than 3 months * Subject having an history of deep vein thrombosis.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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PAYOUX
Toulouse, France
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