The precursor to modern reflexology is known as which practice?

• A. Zone therapy
• B. Swedish massage
• C. Shiatsu
• D. Deep tissue massage

Answer: (A)

Zone therapy is the historical precursor to modern reflexology. It introduced the idea that the body is divided into longitudinal zones and that applying pressure within a zone can affect parts of the body located along that same zone. This concept was developed by Dr. William H. Fitzgerald and later adapted into the foot and hand maps used in reflexology by Eunice D. Ingham, forming the foundation for how reflexology targets reflex points to influence overall health. The other approaches—Swedish massage, which is general muscle work; Shiatsu, which follows meridians in Japanese practice; and deep tissue massage, which focuses on deeper muscle layers—do not originate from this zone-based framework.