Therapeutic Reflexology does not have to be painful to be effective; read more in today’s post.
There are two opposing schools of thought when it comes to whether Therapeutic Reflexology should be painful or not. On the one hand (or is that foot?), there is the group that believes that Therapeutic Reflexology should be painful and if it is not painful, then it is not effective. I personally, disagree with this school of thought. On the other hand (foot?), there is the school of thought that I support namely that Therapeutic Reflexology does not have to be painful to be effective.
Let me explain my point of view that Therapeutic Reflexology does not have to be painful to be effective. It is not the pain that makes Therapeutic Reflexology effective, but the fact that the patient is fully relaxing, and that cannot happen if the person is fearful of the next painful pressure point that will cause another excruciating painful pressure. The reason it is so painful is that the therapist is applying deep pressure to a cold muscle, ligament, or tendon, and the result will be that the body goes into a fight-or-flight response by secreting adrenaline and cortisol as the patient awaits the next painful pressure point in fear and anxiety. Nothing is relaxing about this, and it only causes pain and stress.
The approach I like to use is to not hurt the patient just for the sake of causing pain, but instead to properly warm up all the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and then I can work on the feet without causing unnecessary pain. The result is that the patient feels relaxed and instead of going into a fight-or-flight response, the patient properly relaxes and instead goes into a rest-and-digest response where chemicals like endorphins are being released that assist with the wellness process. There is no need to press painfully into a cold muscle, ligament, or tendon because Therapeutic Reflexologists work on the nerve endings (the reflexes), and therefore there is no need to press deep into the muscles in any case.
Therapeutic Reflexology should be relaxing, not an addition to the stress the patient is already experiencing due to the stresses of the 21st Century.
There may still be areas that are sensitive or even painful, which is a good indication of the imbalances or stress in the body, but that is a guide for the Therapeutic Reflexologist and not a sign to cause pain in those areas. The Therapeutic Reflexologist should always work within the level of comfort for each patient and attempt to induce the ultimate form of relaxation; that is what Therapeutic Reflexology is meant to be; not a therapy of torture.
Experience Therapeutic Reflexology for yourself by visiting a properly qualified, experienced and Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) registered Therapeutic Reflexologist.
Make your appointment today!
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Christo A. Scheepers, Ph.D.
Therapeutic Reflexologist
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243