The effect of foot reflexology on postpartum fatigue in primiparous women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Reproductive Health and Delivery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

2 M.Sc. of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

3 Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

4 M.Sc. in Biostatistics, Nursing Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Many changes occur in postpartum period in the body and soul of mothers that may lead to mothers' feeling fatigue. The use of reflexology has been well established as a branch of complementary medicine in the promotion of health care, especially in the field of maternal and neonatal health. Therefore, this study was performed with aim to investigate the effect of foot reflexology on postpartum fatigue in primiparous women.
Methods: This clinical trial study was performed on 70 primiparous women referred to the healthcare centers in the south of Tehran in 2018. The subjects were divided into two groups of control and reflexology. The mothers of the control group received postpartum routine care and the reflexology group received massage for 3 consecutive days for 30 minutes (15 minutes per leg). Both groups completed the fatigue assessment-visual questionnaire before and after the intervention (immediately and one week after completion). Data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software (version 21) and parametric inferential statistical tests such as analysis of variance with repeated measures and non-parametric measures (Chi-square). Also, independent t-test was used to determine the significant difference between the mean of some social demographic characteristics with the treatment outcome. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Demographic characteristics and severity of fatigue before the intervention were the same in both reflexology and control groups. Immediately after the intervention (p <0.001) and one week after the intervention, the severity of fatigue between the two groups of reflexology and control showed a statistically significant difference (p <0.001).
Conclusion: Supportive and rehabilitation measures such as foot reflexology can be effective in reducing fatigue of primiparous mothers after normal delivery.

Keywords

References

  1. Li CY, Chen SC, Li CY, Gau ML, Huang CM. Randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of using foot reflexology to improve quality of sleep amongst Taiwanese postpartum women. Midwifery 2011; 27(2):181-6.
  2. Mardasi F, Tadayon M, Najar S, Haghighizadeh MH. The effect of foot massage on sleep disorders among mothers in postpartum period. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2013; 16(73):19-28.
  3. Ashrafinia F, Mirmohammadali M, Rajabi H, Kazemnejad A, SadeghniiatHaghighi K, Amelvalizadeh M, et al. The effects of Pilates exercise on sleep quality in postpartum women. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies 2014; 18(2):190-9.
  4. Kuo SY, Yang YL, Kuo PC, Tseng CM, Tzeng YL. Trajectories of depressive symptoms and fatigue among postpartum women. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing 2012; 41(2):216-26.
  5. Shahid A, Shen J, Shapiro CM. Measurements of sleepiness and fatigue. Journal of psychosomatic research 2010; 69(1):81-9.
  6. McKinney ES, James SR, Murray SS, Nelson K, Ashwill J. Maternal-child nursing-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2017.
  7. Taylor J, Johnson M. How women manage fatigue after childbirth. Midwifery 2010; 26(3):367-75.
  8. Groër MW, Shelton MM. Exercise is associated with elevated proinflammatory cytokines in human milk. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing 2009; 38(1):35-41.
  9. Bakker M, van der Beek AJ, Hendriksen IJ, Bruinvels DJ, van Poppel MN. Predictive factors of postpartum fatigue: a prospective cohort study among working women. Journal of psychosomatic research 2014; 77(5):385-90.
  10. Ashrafinia F, Mirmohammadali M, Rajabi H, Kazemnejad A, Haghighi KS, Amelvalizadeh M. Effect of Pilates exercises on postpartum maternal fatigue. Singapore medical journal 2015; 56(3):169.
  11. Rouhi M, Mohammed-alizadeh C S, Usefi H, Rouhi N. Postpartum morbidity and help-seeking behaviours in Iran. British Journal of Midwifery 2011; 19(3):178-84.
  12. Mohammadi F, Malakooti J, Babapoor J, Mohammad‐Alizadeh‐Charandabi S. The effect of a home‐based exercise intervention on postnatal depression and fatigue: A randomized controlled trial. International journal of nursing practice 2015; 21(5):478-85.
  13. Pourghaznein T, Ghafari FA. The effect of sole reflexology on severity of fatigue in pregnant women. Journal of hayat 2007; 12(4):5-11.
  14. Petrozzi A, Gagliardi L. Anxious and depressive components of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in maternal postpartum psychological problems. Journal of perinatal medicine 2013; 41(4):343-8.
  15. Bahraini S, Naji A, Mannani R, Bekhradi R. The comparison of the effects of effleurage massage with aromatic oil and non aromatic oil on fatigue severity in women with multiple sclerosis. Nursing And Midwifery Journal 2011; 9(5).
  16. Lee J, Han M, Chung Y, Kim J, Choi J. Effects of foot reflexology on fatigue, sleep and pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2011; 41(6):821-33.
  17. Fard SA, Dolatian M, Heshmat R, Majd HA. Effect of foot reflexology on physical and psychological symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Pajoohandeh Journal 2013; 18(1):8-15.
  18. Qureshi NA, Al-Bedah AM. Mood disorders and complementary and alternative medicine: a literature review. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment 2013; 9:639.
  19. Demirtürk F, Yilar Erkek Z, Alparslan Ö, Demirtürk F, Demir O, Inanir A. Comparison of reflexology and connective tissue manipulation in participants with primary dysmenorrhea. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2016; 22(1):38-44.
  20. Dyer J, Thomas K, Sandsund C, Shaw C. Is reflexology as effective as aromatherapy massage for symptom relief in an adult outpatient oncology population?. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 2013; 19(3):139-46.
  21. Simbar M. Complementary therapies for pregnancy and childbirth. Tehran: community oriented Healthy 2009.
  22. Mollart L. Women, midwives and reflexology: Making a difference. Women and Birth 2015; 28:S50.
  23. Hall HG, McKenna LG, Griffiths DL. Midwives’ support for complementary and alternative medicine: a literature review. Women and Birth 2012; 25(1):4-12.
  24. Moghimi-Hanjani S, Mehdizadeh-Tourzani Z, Shoghi M. The effect of foot reflexology on anxiety, pain, and outcomes of the labor in primigravida women. Acta Medica Iranica 2015; 53(8):507-11.
  25. Bastani F, Rouhi Rahim Begloo E, Haghani H. Effectiveness of foot reflexology on maternal post C-section fatigue: a non-randomized clinical trial. Evidence Based Care 2015; 5(3):51-62.
  26. Razmjoo N, Yousefi F, Esmaeeli H, Azizi H, Lotfalizadeh M. Effect of foot reflexology on pain and anxiety in women following elective cesarean section. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2012; 15(1):8-16.
  27. Gozuyesil E, Baser M. The effect of foot reflexology applied to women aged between 40 and 60 on vasomotor complaints and quality of life. Complementary therapies in clinical practice 2016; 24:78-85.
  28. Ernst E. Is reflexology an effective intervention? A systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Medical Journal of Australia 2009; 191(5):263-6.
  29. Tiran D, Mackereth PA. Clinical reflexology e-book: a guide for integrated practice. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2010 Dec 1.
  30. Pugh LC, Milligan RA, Gray S, Strickland OL. First stage labor management: An examination of patterned breathing and fatigue. Birth 1998; 25(4):241-5.
  31. Troy NW, Dalgas-Pelish P. The effectiveness of a self-care intervention for the management of postpartum fatigue. Applied Nursing Research 2003; 16(1):38-45..
  32. Sarris J, Byrne GJ. A systematic review of insomnia and complementary medicine. Sleep medicine reviews 2011; 15(2):99-106.
  33. Anbari K, Gholami M. Evaluation of trends in the use of complementary and alternative medicine in health centers in Khorramabad (West of Iran). Global journal of health science 2016; 8(2):72.
  34. Unal KS, Akpinar RB. The effect of foot reflexology and back massage on hemodialysis patients' fatigue and sleep quality. Complementary therapies in clinical practice 2016; 24:139-44.
  35. Potter PA, Perry AG, Stockert PA, Hall A, Peterson V. Clinical Companion for Fundamentals of Nursing-E-Book: Just the Facts. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2016.
  36. Ghaffari F, Pour Ghaznein T. The Reflexology of Sole on Tiredness Intensity in Pregnant Women. Caspian J Intern Med 2010; 1(2):58-62
  37. Jang SH, Kim KH. Effects of Seff-Foot Reflexology on Stress, Fatigue and Blood Circulation in Premenopausal Middle-Aged Women. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2009; 39(5).
  38. Field TM, Sunshine W, Hernandezreif M, Quintino O, Schanberg S, Kuhn C, et al. Massage therapy effects on depression and somatic symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of chronic fatigue syndrome 1997; 3(3):43-51.
  39. Oh SY, Lim NY. The effects of self-administered hand reflexology on fatigue in student nurses in clinical practice. Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing 2004; 11(3):256-64.
The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 24, Issue 5
July 2021
Pages 19-30

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics