A number of research papers have been published over recent years examining the benefits of Reflexology and Massage on a variety of health conditions and in particular on stress related physical and mental conditions. Benefits of holding Wellness at Work sessions can include:
Work related stress is the largest occupational health problem in the UK today. According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of working days lost due to sickness or injury in the UK in 2016 stood at 137.3 million, with mental health issues, including stress, depression, anxiety accounting for 15.8 million days lost (11.5%).
Excessive stress, without the opportunity to recover, can cause physiological and psychological problems including headaches, digestive problems, tension, fatigue and irritability. It weakens the immune system which can lead to other physical illnesses. In the workplace stress can result in low morale, reduced performance, productivity and creativity and increased absenteeism.
The Impact of Stress: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/stress
The physical effects of stress on the body: https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-body#7
There is an increasing amount of evidence-based research being published focussing on the effects and benefits of Reflexology and Massage, including case study examples of success within the work environment. A few examples can be found below:
National Institutes of Health (NIH), US Department of Health & Human Services
The NIH site the following research paper “Using reflexology to manage stress in the workplace: a preliminary study
Authors: Atkins RC, Harris P ”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18940715
Science Direct Elsevier; Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
A pilot study of the effectiveness of reflexology in treating idiopathic constipation in women
https://www.journals.elsevier.com/complementary-therapies-in-clinical-practice
The Touch Research Institute
The Touch Research Institute has conducted numerous studies on the benefits of massage on conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression, back pain
https://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/Research.html
The Cochrane Library
The Effect of Head Massage on the Regulation of the Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System
http://cochranelibrary-wiley.com/o/cochrane/clcentral/articles/758/CN-01133758/frame.html
Reflexology Research
Randomized Controlled Study Of Premenstrual Symptoms Treated with Ear, Hand, and Foot Reflexology
http://www.reflexologyresearch.net/PMSResearchAbstract.shtml
The National Centre for Biotechnology Information
Reviewing the effect of reflexology on the pain and certain features and outcomes of the labor on the primiparous women
bi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3208928/
The FDZ Research Council in Denmark
The FDZ has carried out research into the effects of workplace reflexology. Companies that participated in the research included Telecom Taastrup, SAS Cargo and Denmark Odense Post Office
https://www.fdz.dk/om-fdz/