Reflexology is a type of massage therapy involving the foot and sometimes the hands. Reflexology is based on the premise that certain areas of your hands and feet correspond to specific areas of the body. A lipoma is a benign, or non-cancerous, tumor comprised of fatty tissue that can be anywhere on the body, but is most common on the chest, thighs, arms, neck and shoulders. Lipomas usually cause no discomfort and require no treatment, according to Columbia University's Health Services. A lipoma might cause pain and tenderness if it presses on nearby nerves, creating a treatment opportunity for a reflexologist. Get your doctor's approval prior to trying reflexology.
About Reflexology
When treating a person with a painful lipoma, a reflexologist presses areas of the foot associated with the part of your body experiencing pain. According to the University of New Hampshire Health Services, the theory is that applying pressure to certain areas of the foot or hand corresponding with a specific area of the body releases energy that is blocked in the associated body part. This energy is then able to flow through the body, enhancing self-healing and well-being. Physiologically, there might be neurological relationships between pressure points in the skin and internal organs, reducing anxiety and pain.
Proven Pain Relieving Benefits
The results of a study published in "Oncology Nursing Forum" in January 2007 confirmed that reflexology reduces pain. The study followed 42 experimental and 44 control subjects, all suffering from painful metastatic cancer. The experimental subjects received partner delivered foot reflexology therapy, and the control group received standard medical care. The study found that the experimental group had a significant reduction in pain intensity compared to the control group receiving standard medical care.
Limitations
Reflexology might help pain associated with your lipoma, but it will not remove the condition or cure any illness like cancer. The premise is that a reflexologist helps you reduce tension and anxiety and is merely a participant in the body's own ability to repair itself.
Considerations
If you notice a lump on your body under the skin, even if the lump is soft and movable instead of hard and rigid -- a more ominous sign -- see a doctor. Your doctor needs to do a thorough evaluation, which might include a biopsy, to rule out other health conditions. If your doctor diagnoses you with a lipoma that does not require medical treatment, it is your decision whether to seek reflexology therapy, but seek your doctor's advice.
References
- Health Services at Columbia: Lipoma
- University of New Hampshire Health Services: Reflexology
- University of Minnesota: How Does Reflexology Work?
- Oncology Nursing Forum; Partner-Delivered Reflexology: Effects on Cancer Pain and Anxiety; NL Stephenson, et al.; January 2007
- "Oncology Nursing Forum"; Partner-Delivered Reflexology: Effects on Cancer Pain and Anxiety; NL Stephenson, et al.; January 2007
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