Reflexology is a common choice of women with
breast cancer as supportive care during treatment. It involves stimulation of specific locations of the feet called reflexes using a specialised walking motion with the thumb of the reflexologist.
Reflexology has shown potential for the successful management of
cancer and treatment-related symptoms and improvement in physical functioning; however to date, the mechanism of action for these improvements is unknown. One confounder to the study of
reflexology is the 'human factor'. To study the effects of the stimulation of the reflexes independent of the 'human factor', there is a need for an alternative method for the delivery of
reflexology. The objective of this work was to design and create a robotic
reflexology device that would deliver a
breast cancer-specific
reflexology protocol to the feet of patients. A prototype robotic
reflexology device was developed and tested for feasibility, safety and acceptability with
breast cancer survivors (n= 13), and preliminary efficacy in symptom management and enhanced functional status with a sample of women undergoing
chemotherapy for
breast cancer (n= 13). Safety, feasibility and acceptability were established, and significant improvements from pre- to post-device-delivered
reflexology were seen in symptom severity among women on
chemotherapy.