The influence of foot and back massage on blood pressure and sleep quality in females with essential hypertension: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the influence of foot and back massage on blood pressure and sleep quality in females with essential hypertension. Non-pharmacologic methods like massage may be effective for balancing blood pressure and solving sleep problems. This is a randomized controlled study conducted in accordance with CONSORT rules. Females with essential hypertension were applied a total of six sessions of 30 min of foot and back massage twice weekly during 3 weeks. The study included a total of 90 patients of whom 60 were in intervention group (foot massage group, back massage group) and 30 in control group. Data were collected through personal data form (PDF) which included descriptive characteristics, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Six sessions of foot massage and back massage were detected to lead to a reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). A strong statistical difference was found between mean pretest posttest scores of overall and sub-dimensional scores of PSQI in females in intervention group (p < 0.001). Foot and back massage was found to be effective in reducing blood pressure and improving sleep quality.