Over the past six years I have developed the technique called Vertical Reflex Therapy (VRT) which differs from conventional reflexology in that the client is always treated in a standing and weight-bearing position.

The key to its success appears to be the fact that new, or much deeper, reflexes are accessed when the foot is weight-bearing. The position is obviously not so comfortable for the practitioner or client, but this is compensated by treating the feet at this angle for a maximum of only one to five minutes. Hip, back and skeletal problems in general respond particularly well and the benefits continue after only a few short treatments. In many cases improvement has been noticed immediately. All conditions can be helped and cases such as digestive problems, asthma and immune deficiency disorders have also responded well, as all reflex points can be accessed from the dorsum (top) of the foot

VRT can locate very tender reflexes, but light pressure can be exerted for thirty seconds and still achieve results. The experienced reflexologist, when using VRT, will be immediately aware of a different "feel" to the familiar reflex points and will soon learn to interpret and clear areas of congestion, often with greater clarity and speed than before. I trained with the International Institute of Reflexology and have subsequently learnt different reflexology techniques from Anthony Porter’s ART seminars. All reflexologists who practice VRT will, however, be able to access deeper reflex points using their existing skills. Small amounts of cream and the knuckles can be used to increase sensitivity, enabling the practitioner to work quickly and precisely without strain, despite sitting or kneeling on the floor. Weekly treatments produce good results and a maximum of two sessions per week are recommended, as the client’s body needs time to adjust.

Since 1994, I have held a weekly clinic at the St Monica Trust,  a Bristol residential nursing home which cares for two hundred elderly residents, and I became gradually aware that wheel-chair bound clients responded well to reflexology, especially in orthopaedic cases. I often used to ask them to press downwards with their feet on the chair foot supports as I could then penetrate deeper into the reflexes. However, the concept of VRT was only formalised after the following incident.

A seventy four year old woman, with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, was injured in a minor accident and was reduced to using a zimmer frame as she was too frail to undergo a hip replacement operation. She said she was in great pain, so, although I was only passing and in a hurry, I knelt down and worked the hip, leg, spine and pelvic points on her ankle areas for no more than ninety seconds, while she remained standing. Ten minutes later, after I had left, she had an acute pain in her right hip followed by soreness and tingling which lasted approximately thirty minutes. Her hip was then much less painful and by the following morning she had more mobility than she had for weeks. I gave her short treatments using the same technique for seven weeks by which time she could walk unaided, climb stairs and catch buses. Years later her progress has been maintained.

Following this significant success, I began to experiment on willing friends, family and clients. A forty nine year old woman with back problems began to walk and sleep more easily, a man of twenty seven lost all lower back pain, three women with longstanding, chronic hip problems almost immediately found driving easier, while children and sports people responded very quickly to this treatment for neck, leg and back injuries. Another reflexologist reported that a client, whom she had been treating for months, was able to resume sporting activities after a five year gap following just three VRT treatments. After VRT, several people have described their body as adjusting and ‘settling itself back to normal’. The affected part of the body can occasionally feel sore afterwards for a short period, but usually for no more than thirty minutes. Subsequent research showed VRT had a role to play in helping all conditions.

My first problem in developing VRT as an holistic treatment was that most of the organ reflexes lie on the plantar of the foot. However, my research indicates that all the plantar reflexes can be accessed via the dorsum. The sole can also be treated briefly as I devised a short, but thorough, twenty minute treatment which consists of two to three minutes of VRT at the beginning and end, with a brief conventional treatment on the sole of the foot in between. The chiropractic premise is that ‘structure governs function’, and I have found that many organs and glands now respond quickly when the skeletal system has been worked deeply using VRT.

Synergistic Reflexology refers to the technique of treating the hand and foot reflexes simultaneously. This increases the powerful response of the reflexes. Three point VRT is also used on the Neural Pathway reflexes on the spine and the Zonal Triggers in the ankle. All these methods are described in my book "Vertical Reflexology", published by Piatkus and all methods described are taught on the VRT courses specifically tailored for qualified reflexologists.

The dorsum of the foot can be worked quickly and gently using the techniques mentioned above to treat all the organs and glands. Apart from the skeletal, lymphatic and reproductive systems, one can access the head and brain through the toes. Similarly, one can treat the chest /lung area as well as extra heart, liver and gall bladder points. The bladder reflexes can be easily reached, as can part of the intestinal tract, if the instep is high.

One of the major benefits of VRT is to ease lower back pain and a useful technique is to put the thumb or finger under the instep and gently press and pull upwards, as if bending the ‘spine’ into a banana shape. This can sometimes instantly relax the lumber vertebrae and any work on the spinal column will, of course, stimulate the entire nervous system.

Always place a chair back or table in front of clients being treated so that they can steady themselves when standing. It is tempting to ask the client to stand on a stool or chair, as it is more comfortable for the practitioner to work, but I would advise against this practice as a general rule since the person could become unsteady and fall. Disabled clients can be treated in a sitting position, as long as their feet are placed firmly on the floor or on their wheel chair supports. Advanced techniques taught on our courses enhance all the treatments described below.

The reflexologist kneels or sits on the floor and begins working swiftly under the ankle bone and around the pelvic and sciatic area. ART techniques and a minute amount of cream are especially helpful around the pelvic and spinal points, but all reflexologists will be able to penetrate the reflexes deeply using their existing skills. Press firmly into the reflexes across the top of the ankles and slide the fingers back and forward under the ankle bone making a ‘hammock’ shape. Work carefully across the top of the ankle as these reflexes are especially painful if there is a groin or lymphatic problem.

Work each toe individually and press the lymphatic points firmly, between the large and second toe. Work up and down the phalanges, using several fingers at once. Press each of the spinal vertebrae reflexes firmly, enabling stimulation of the central nervous system to affect changes in all organs, glands and structures. Place the palm over the foot and grip the spinal reflexes with the finger tips and pull the arch upwards slightly at the lumber reflexes. The bladder responds well to firm pressure, as do the reproductive points. All the reflexes will feel much sharper to the client. This procedure should not exceed three to four minutes.

The client then lies or sits down and the plantar of the foot is swiftly worked in the conventional manner for eight to ten minutes covering all reflex points. On completion, I gently massage the feet for a couple of minutes with sweet almond oil and encourage the client to breathe gently. It is important to relax the client, as the treatment is short and the VRT can sometimes be momentarily uncomfortable at the start and finish of a treatment.

Finally, the reflexes are worked for a further one to two minutes with the client standing again. It is not essential to treat the feet twice in a treatment but it is advisable as the body will now be receptive to healing and further VRT, following the conventional reflexology. Secondly, it is important to consolidate this profound treatment and to ascertain whether the reflexes are less painful second time round.

I frequently use VRT at the beginning and end of a conventional treatment. If VRT is used only once then it should be at the end of a session.

Two to three minutes of VRT is very effective in emergency situations: as First Aid after an accident, on unwilling children, or on adults who do not want a proper treatment, or simply for expediency.

This method of VRT would always be a second choice, but has nonetheless proved to be effective. The clients place their hands flat down on a table, pressed downwards and keeping the arms straight. The hand reflexes are accessed and treated with VRT and then the entire hand is gently massaged and worked in the normal manner.

Vertical Reflex Therapy appears to have a very positive application used in isolation, as well as an extremely useful addition to conventional reflexology and to other therapies, such as osteopathy and aromatherapy. VRT and reflexology, when used together, appear to create a synergistic effect, thus bringing about more immediate healing results.

In 1997 I undertook a seven week VRT trial of elderly people aged between sixty one and ninety years. The Matron of the residential home where I practise, submitted eight willing candidates, all of whom had multiple pathologies including hip, back and knee problems. Each was given a weekly fifteen minute VRT treatment, as described above in Method 1. They were monitored by means of diaries, questionnaires and nursing feedback and the results were presented to the senior nursing staff and two G.Ps.

Five residents reported marked improvements including fewer back, leg and knee problems, plus better sleep and greater relaxation. In one case, after only two treatments, a woman began to walk without sticks for the first time in a year and another, previously incapacitated by excruciating groin pain, became virtually pain free. (Interestingly, in the latter case, the painful groin reflex on the ankle could only be accessed by VRT techniques). Given the age and chronic illness of the people taking part in the trial, I feel that the results are a very positive confirmation of the benefits of VRT.

Qualified practitioners of reflexology will easily be able to incorporate VRT into their treatments and other therapists could also learn to use it, as it is a basically simple and quick technique. There is a wide application for the use of VRT in the fields of sport, music, theatre and dance, as well as in such professions as the police, where normally fit and active people become injured or unwell. A reflexologist could treat an entire cricket team in a reasonably short space of time!

Therapists are advised to proceed gently and should not overwork the reflexes when using VRT. It is a very powerful tool. In rare cases, a short period of slight discomfort is experienced after VRT, while the body makes some profound internal adjustments. This should be mentioned to clients as a few people may experience a tingling sensation, heat, throbbing or momentary shooting sensations for several minutes. Conversely, many have reported muscles relaxing, warmth, instant pain relief, mobility and a few have even felt an involuntary ‘click’ as vertebra adjust

In most cases, Vertical Reflex Therapy should be considered as complementary to, not a substitute for, conventional reflexology and possibly other therapies. To date, over 2500 reflexologists in the UK and Europe have been trained in VRT techniques and the demand world-wide for VRT training indicates the efficacy and success of these techniques. In 2002  I will present and teach VRT in South Africa and Australia.   It is a specific key to the body, allowing immediate access to deep, and possibly new, reflex points. I see it working as a catalyst, enhancing reflexology and other therapies and therefore achieving homeostasis or balance in a much shorter space of time.