The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Anxiety, Pain, and Outcomes of the Labor in Primigravida Women
Wow, I have been sent an amazing piece of research on how Foot Reflexology can help ease the pain and anxiety in labouring women and also improve Agpar Scores (Apgar stands for "Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration." It is a test given to check a baby’s health where these five things are checked. Each is scored on a scale of 0 to 2, with 2 being the best score.
The study was aimed to see how effective foot reflexology was on anxiety, pain and outcomes of women who are in labor for the first time with their first full term baby. There were 80 mothers who were divided randomly into an intervention group, where foot reflexology was applied for 40 minutes, and a controlled group.
The pain was scored for both groups, based on McGill Questionnaire for Pain Rating Index (PRI), and was taken straight after the intervention and at 30,60 and 120 minute intervals. The anxiety was measured using Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and was taken both before and after intervention. Duration of labour phases, the type of labor and Apgar scores of the infant at the first and fifth minute were recorded in both groups.
The results shows that the application of reflexology techniques decreased pain intensity (at 30, 60 and 120 min after intervention), duration of labour and as anxiety level significantly. Furthermore, a significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of the frequency distribution of the type of labor and Apgar score.
Using this non-invasive technique, obstetricians can achieve, to some extent, to one of the most important goals of midwifery as pain relief and reducing anxiety during labor and encourage the mothers to have a vaginal delivery.
This research was carried out by:
2015 Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Acta Med Iran 2015;53(8):507-511.
Moghimi-Hanjani S1, Mehdizadeh-Tourzani Z2, Shoghi M3.
Author information
1 Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Karaj, Iran.
2 Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
3 Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Karaj, Iran.