Zone Theory
Zone Theory has been the basic understanding of how reflexology works for almost a century. Basically, if the plantar aspect of the feet were to be superimposed over the anatomical body, and divided equally into ten zones, you could reach any reflex within that zone. These reflexes that are between these vertical lines (simply draw a line between each toe all the way down to the heal) connect to organs, glands and other body parts.
All reflexes are affected equally by applying pressure in these zones and by striking within these zones causes the unblocking of body members that lie between these lines.
Zones are a system for organizing relationships between various parts of the body. By applying pressure on a specific part of the body, another part in the same zone is also affected.
This prevalent theory has recently been challenged by the Dominant Theory.