Ai M, Zhang HH, Feng JB, Li CM, Wang WJ, Hu MD. Is it possible to foot reflexology for infants with sensorineural hearing loss? World J Clin Cases 2025; 13(2): 94509 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i2.94509]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Mengdie Hu, MM, Doctor, Department of Medical Imaging, Chongqing University Central Hospital, No. 1 Jiankang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China. 1356582512@qq.com
Research Domain of This Article
Pediatrics
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Clin Cases. Jan 16, 2025; 13(2): 94509 Published online Jan 16, 2025. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i2.94509
Is it possible to foot reflexology for infants with sensorineural hearing loss?
Min Ai, Hang-Hang Zhang, Jun-Bang Feng, Chuan-Ming Li, Wen-Jing Wang, Meng-Die Hu
Min Ai, Department of Anesthesiology, Nanan District People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing 400060, China
Hang-Hang Zhang, Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing Bishan District Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Chongqing 402760, China
Jun-Bang Feng, Chuan-Ming Li, Wen-Jing Wang, Meng-Die Hu, Department of Medical Imaging, Chongqing University Central Hospital, Chongqing 400014, China
Co-first authors: Min Ai and Hang-Hang Zhang.
Co-corresponding authors: Wen-Jing Wang and Meng-Die Hu.
Author contributions: Ai M and Zhang HH have contributed equally to this study. Ai M and Zhang HH designed the case report; Feng JB, Li CM collected the data; Both Wang WJ and Hu MD played important and indispensable roles in the paper revision and manuscript preparation as the co-corresponding authors. Wang WJ conceptualized, designed, and supervised the whole process of the project. She searched the literature, revised the early version of the manuscript with the focus on basic principles of foot reflexology. Hu MD was instrumental and responsible for data re-analysis, comprehensive literature search, and submission of the current version of the manuscript with a new focus on current status of the application of foot reflexology. This collaboration between Wang WJ and Hu MD is crucial for the publication of this manuscript and other manuscripts still in preparation.
Supported bythe Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, No. 2022CDJYGRH-004.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they have no conflict-of-interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mengdie Hu, MM, Doctor, Department of Medical Imaging, Chongqing University Central Hospital, No. 1 Jiankang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China. 1356582512@qq.com
Received: March 19, 2024 Revised: September 20, 2024 Accepted: September 30, 2024 Published online: January 16, 2025 Processing time: 233 Days and 12.9 Hours
Abstract
Foot reflexology is a non-invasive and safe complementary therapy that works by massaging the reflex zones of the feet and exerts systemic or whole-body regulation through meridian nerve conduction. This therapy is commonly used in the treatment of various conditions such as autism and Parkinson's disease. However, there is limited reporting on the use of foot reflexology therapy for infants with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Currently, there is no definitive conclusion on how foot reflexology therapy can influence hearing. This editorial holds some guiding significance regarding this clinical issue. The aim is to present physiological evidence of how foot reflexology therapy can impact infants with SNHL, thereby enhancing clinician’s awareness of foot reflexology in treating infants with SNHL.
Core Tip: In this editorial, we have reviewed the case report by Lee et al. According to the authors, the purpose of presenting this case is to draw attention to the therapeutic effects and physiological evidence of foot reflexology in infants with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). While there is an increasing body of research and reports on the use of foot reflexology for pain relief, anxiety, and fatigue, this editorial article specifically focuses on the significance of foot reflexology in treating infants with SNHL.
