Specific Effect of Foot Reflexology on Diaphragm Function: Comparison Between Different Biomarkers Upon Stimulation of the Reflex Area

Many complex, chronic and multifactorial dysfunctions, such as diaphragm dysfunction, are refractory to drug therapy. This encourage investigators to explore new non-drug therapeutic paths, such as plantar reflexology (RP). This change is essential and will broaden relevant solutions to health.

Despite the very positive benefits of RP highlighted, the methodological quality of trials are often poor and there are gaps notably on the description of the intervention, the blind, the drop-out rate ... which prevents the meta-analyzes to conclude. Promoting rigorous research will play an essential role in the transition to personalized and integrative medicine. With the intention of specifying the methods of application and the indications of the PR, it is necessary to correctly evaluate and be able to cross-check the different information It therefore seems relevant to combine research on the objective physiological effects in correlation with the patient's subjective feelings to initiate the scientific validation of RP and thus non-drug interventions as recommended by the High Authority for Health (HAS). The hypothesis is that through a comparison of the evolution of different parameters, quantitative and qualitative, this study will allow to identify biomarkers and highlight the specific effect of RP on the diaphragm function, compared to placebo.