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Over the years, sceptics have questioned a basic tenet of reflexology: work on one part of the foot effects another part of the body. Now, Austrian researchers have shown that reflexology work applied to the kidney reflex area of the foot influences blood flow to the kidneys. The study is reported with impeccable credentials: it is cited on Medline, a database of the United States government and was conducted as a double-blind randomized, placebo controlled study,
"Using colour (sic) Doppler sonography blood flow changes of the right kidney during foot reflexology were determine in a placebo-controlled, double blind, randomised (sic) study. 32 healthy young adults (17 women, 15 men) were randomly assigned to the verum or placebo group. The verum group received foot reflexology at zones corresponding to the right kidney, the placebo group was treated on other foot zones. Before, during and after foot reflexology, the blood flow of three vessels of the right kidney was measured using colour Doppler sonography. Systolic peak velocity and end diastolic peak velocity was measured in cm/s, and the resistive index a parameter of the vascular resistance, was calculated. The resistive index in the verum group showed a highly significant decrease (p</=0.001) during and an increase (p=0.001) after foot reflexology. There was no difference between men and women and no difference between smokers and non-smokers. Verum and placebo groups significantly differed concerning alterations of the restive index, both between the measuring points before versus during foot reflexology (p=0.002) and those during versus after reflexology (p=0.031). The significant decrease of the resistive index during foot reflexology in the verum (treatment) group indicates a decrease of flow resistance in the renal vessels and an increase of renal blood flow. These findings support the hypothesis that organ-associate foot reflexology is effective in changing renal blood flow during therapy." (PMID: 14060981, UI: 99392031)
At its November 1999 meeting, the New Mexico Board of Massage Therapy voted to exclude reflexologists and other bodywork practitioners from its definition of massage therapy as a part of its Rules and Regulations. The vote followed a two-year process of meetings and formal hearings conducted by the Board to up-date its Rules and Regulations. Kevin and Barbara Kunz developed an educational network, letter writing campaigns, and common strategies with reflexologists, Polarity Therapists, Feldenkrais practitioners, and others to address the issue. The two attended 30 hearings, meetings, and meetings about meetings in a 14-month period.
Legislation exempting reflexology in law was passed during the 1999 session of the New Mexico Legislature. At the August Board meeting, however, it was revealed that the exemption for reflexology and other practices is invalid because the bill included a repeal of the exemption clause. Reflexologists are working with legislators to reintroduce the exemption clause to the Massage Therapy Practices Act during the January 2000 legislative session. An exemption in law is being sought by reflexologists since Rules and Regulations can be changed by future Boards.
Under a law that took effect October 1, 1999, reflexologists and others who "knead, stretch, tap, rub, stroke, or compress soft tissue in any manner or degree" are subject to certification or registration as a massage therapist or practitioner. The requirements for a waiver available until 2002 include (1) proof of three hundred paid hours of massage, (2) proof of passing the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork examination, and (3) completion of the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination. After 2002, requirements will include completion of a 500-hour course of study at a state-approved and COMTA accredited school or accredited by a certification society approved by the U.S. Department of Education or a school program equivalent to that approved by COMTA. State investigators will refer alleged violators to the state attorney general's office. Violators are subject to a $5,000 fine and a year in jail.
Senate Bill 1220 creating a licensing board for reflexologists and massage therapists has been submitted to the Pennsylvania state legislature. Language in the bill creates separate definitions and regulation of the two professions. Committee hearings begin in January. The Governor, who must sign the bill into law if it passes the legislature, is known to be hesitant about creating new professional boards.
Reflexologists have learned that professionals faces a clear and present danger with the enactment of state massage therapy laws. Legislation passed in recent years in Alabama, Tennessee, New Mexico, and Maryland included no mention of reflexology. Subsequent findings by attorneys general, and decisions by newly created Massage Therapy Boards, however, have raised the issue of requiring massage licensing of reflexologists in these states. These laws are seen to be "practice" laws. Thus, the Boards are legally entitled to define "massage" as including reflexology (and other) practices and to require massage licensing. (The issue has been resolved in New Mexico and discussion continues in Tennessee.) Reflexologists in Maryland were unaware that massage legislation was working its way through the legislature. Reflexologists in New Mexico were told the legislation was a "title" law, impacting only massage therapists, at the time it was passed. (It is not clear whether language in the original law was not appropriate to a "title" law or whether changes in the law over the years changed the Massage Practice Act to a "practices" act.)
Kevin and Barbara Kunz announce the availability of curriculum packages for the teaching of reflexology subjects. The Kunz Curriculum System provides the ability for schools and teachers to instruct students from The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology (Revised) and other Kunz and Kunz written works. The curriculum packages include Instructor's Manual, Student Manual, transparencies / overlays for visual presentation, note sheets, and quizzes / exams specific to the subject. Currently available are curriculum packages for the subjects of Hand Reflexology (32 hours) and Assessment for Reflexologists (16 or 32 hours). For information about purchasing curriculum packages, phone or write numbers indicated below.
Kevin and Barbara Kunz will present a one-day class in "Stress Cues and Assessment for Reflexologists" Saturday, March 25, 2000 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Best Western / Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road, London, Ontario, Canada. The class is sponsored by the London Reflexology Association. The cost is $100 (Canadian) / $66 (US) if payment received by Jan 15th, 2000 and $125 (Canadian) / $82 (US) after Jan 15th, 2000. A light luncheon is included. To register write, Lynn Halladay, Vice-President, London Reflexology Association, #205-101 Cherryhill Blvd., London, Ontario, N6H-4S4 Canada. For further information Call: Lynn Halladay, 519-675-0862. For hotel bookings, call: 519-681-7151.