Reflexology is an age-old modality that is not usually associated with technology, but if you want to get the best possible therapeutic reflexology consultations in the 21stcentury, should you not consider the inclusion of relevant technology in the treatment? In today’s post, we’ll explore the use of technology in therapeutic reflexology.
As I woke up and sat overlooking the beautiful ocean in Wilderness, Western Cape, I realised how privileged we are to live in the 21stcentury with all the modern technology at our fingertips. The past couple of centuries have seen a huge increase in technological advancement globally. We just spent the weekend and Father’s Day with my parents in Alexandria, Eastern Cape, basically a 1000km drive from where we live in Cape Town. As I sat contemplating this very privilege, I realised that just a couple of centuries ago, a journey from Cape Town to Alexandria would have taken weeks if not months, but here we just did it over a weekend and on the way back, had the privilege of staying over in Wilderness.
Technology has developed and we are using it in every sphere of life, from driving vehicles to flying airplanes, from taking a hot bath or shower to using a microwave to heat our food or switching on the television to relax while watching a movie. In the medical world, it is even more astonishing. Just think about what medical science and technology have accomplished in the past couple of centuries. I just read the other day about the Da Vinci robot used in urological surgery in South Africa and even that surgeries with a robot like this is possible with the surgeon being in a totally different city at the time of the operation. Wow, what technological advancement.
In a world where technology is used to add value to almost any sphere of life, is it not part of the Complementary Medicine industry as well? Yes, it is!
As a therapeutic reflexologist, I believe in providing my patients with the best possible treatment in the Complementary Medicine industry which includes the use of the latest technology.
Reflexology is a treatment modality that developed over thousands of years and is about maximum touch in the form of stimulation of the reflexes (nerve endings) mainly on the feet, but also on other parts of the body like the hands, ears, face, and body. It has always been a form of touch therapy where the therapist applies touch to the patient’s body in order to relax it and to allow the body to be in a relaxed state in an attempt to heal itself, or at least, attempt to balance itself.
Therapeutic Reflexology is a recognised healthcare modality in South Africa, formally regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA). The AHPCSA is a statutory regulating body and the only council that can provide therapeutic reflexologists with the right to legally practice the profession in South Africa. That means that therapeutic reflexologists may only legally practice if they are registered and regulated by the AHPCSA, but that also means that no technological devices can be used legally without it being approved by the AHPCSA.
In my practice, I believe in providing patients with the best possible treatment and that includes the use of modern-day technology that is approved by the AHPCSA. One such device is the Vacuflex Concepts; a contemporary device providing electronic reflexology. This device is only available to therapeutic reflexologists that have been trained in the use of it.
I completed my therapeutic reflexology diploma through the International Academy of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy (IARAMT) where after I was personally trained by the Inge Dougans of Dougans International in the use of the Vacuflex Concepts.
The Vacuflex Concepts provides three major technological advancement aspects to the field of therapeutic reflexology. Firstly, a visual assessment makes it possible to customise treatment for each individual patient. Secondly, the Vacuflex boots provide electronic stimulation of nerve endings. Thirdly, the Vacuflex cups provides electronic cupping therapy within the therapeutic reflexology scope of practice.
A few questions may need to be answered when including technology in a complementary healthcare modality:
- Why use technology?
Technology is part of modern-day living and it increases the effectiveness of treatment while reducing the number of treatments needed. By adding technology to a complementary healthcare modality, it does not replace the treatment, it merely enhances the treatment and the outcomes.
- Does technology replace hands-on therapy?
No, technology can never replace hands-on therapy and since therapeutic reflexology is a physical therapeutic modality, the use of touch during the treatment remains a crucial aspect of the session. Technology will never replace hands-on physical therapy, but it is used to enhance the treatment.
- Is the Vacuflex treatment used without any hands-on therapy?
That depends on the therapeutic reflexologist being consulted. Some therapeutic reflexologists do offer Vacuflex treatment sessions where the entire session consists of the Vacuflex treatment. The benefit of this is that duration times of sessions are shortened and it may even be more cost-effective.
However, personally, I like to combine the Vacuflex Concepts electronic reflexology technology with a hands-on (manual) physical treatment session. My approach is always to allow for maximum healthy touch during therapeutic reflexology and therefore I prefer not to replace the touch aspect of the treatment with technology, but instead to enhance it by adding technology to the session, while still providing the physical treatment as well.
- Is Vacuflex reflexology expensive?
The Vacuflex Concepts device is a very expensive device that is imported into South Africa. Each therapeutic reflexologist works differently and may have different rates, which may be a rate for physical treatment as well as a rate for Vacuflex treatment. Personally, I combine the Vacuflex treatment with physical therapy and therefore I charge medical aid rates for a session that may include physical treatment and/or Vacuflex treatment without any additional fees charged.
You’ll have to find out from your therapeutic reflexologist of choice how he or she works with the fee structure.
- Is Vacuflex treatment painful?
No, not at all. When using the Vacuflex boots, the pressure may be regulated in order to keep it within the patient’s level of comfort; it may be more “weird” at first instead of painful. The Vacuflex cups are not painful at all, but when used on certain parts of the body (like the legs or the arms), it may leave some slight cupping marks or bruises; depending on how easily the patient bruises. This will be discussed with the patient before any treatment and no treatment will be performed without consent. No bruising usually occurs when using the Vacuflex cups on the feet or hands; it is just when working on other parts of the body that it may occur.
- Is Vacuflex treatment effective?
Yes, it is very effective and enhances the success rate of therapeutic reflexology. No success can be guaranteed, just like your medical doctor cannot guarantee that medication will work for you, but I have personally seen very good results in practice. It appears that by combining the Vacuflex Concepts into a therapeutic reflexology session, that the number of sessions needed is reduced and people may experience results sometimes within one or two sessions instead of having to get 8 to 10 sessions with only physical therapy. As said, each person reacts differently to therapeutic reflexology and therefore no results can be guaranteed.
- Do all therapeutic reflexologists offer Vacuflex treatment?
No. Only formally trained therapeutic reflexologists may use the Vacuflex Concepts, but since it is a very expensive device to purchase, all therapeutic reflexologists do not use it. Some therapeutic reflexologists prefer to make use of physical treatment only.
If you are regularly visiting a specific therapeutic reflexologist that does not use the Vacuflex Concepts and you would like to experience it, you are welcome to ask your regular therapeutic reflexologist to refer you to a therapeutic reflexologist that uses the Vacuflex Concepts. In such an instance, the therapeutic reflexologist with the Vacuflex will provide you with the Vacuflex treatment and then refer you back to your regular therapeutic reflexologist; therapeutic reflexologists will not “steal” patients from other therapists and therefore you should not feel hesitant to discuss a Vacuflex treatment with your therapist.
The use of modern technology in a complementary healthcare modality like therapeutic reflexology should be used to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment because ultimately therapists are there to help patients in the best possible way.
If we use technology to enhance every aspect of our lives, why not include it in your complementary healthcare treatment like therapeutic reflexology as well?
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
Dip.T.R.(Cum Laude) [IARAMT]
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243