Effect of Foot Massage on Labor Pain in Parturient Women.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effect of foot massage on labor pain, duration of delivery, interventions, postpartum bleeding, and the emotional state of pregnant women during labor.
Results Summary
Foot massage reduced labor pain severity (measured by VAS scores), shortened the second and third stages of labor, decreased negative behavioral responses during delivery, and increased maternal satisfaction.
Population
Primiparous women in labor at Karaman State Hospital, Turkey.
Effective Dosage
20 minutes of classic foot massage on each foot at 3 different times (cervical dilatation of 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-9 cm), totaling 60 minutes.
Duration
Administered during the first phase of labor.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
foot massage | decrease | pain severity | primiparous women during labor | - | decreased | #1 |
foot massage | decrease | pain | primiparous women | - | experienced less pain | #2 |
foot massage | decrease | second and third stages of labor | primiparous women in the intervention group | - | were shorter | #3 |
foot massage | decrease | negative behavioral responses during delivery | primiparous women in the intervention group | - | showed less negative behavioral responses | #4 |
foot massage | increase | satisfaction with foot massage | primiparous women in the intervention group | - | were satisfied | #5 |
BACKGROUND: Massageis one of the non-pharmacologic methods used to control pain and help pregnant women cope with the pain and positively affect labor. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of foot massage in pregnant women during labor, labor pain, the duration of the delivery, interventions, postpartum bleeding and the emotional state of the mother. DESIGN: This study was designedas a randomized controlled experimental study. SETTING: The research was carried out in primipara women who cameto the clinic for childbirth in Karaman State Hospital, Turkey, between December 2016 and May 2017. PATIENTS: Patients comprised 80 primiparous women who were randomly assigned to either the intervention (foot massage) group (n = 40) or the control group (n = 40) in accordance with the study criteria. INTERVENTION: Routine nursing care was provided in both groups during the latent labor phase; all women signed an informed consent form. In the first phase of birth, the intervention group received a classic foot massage for 20 minutes on each foot at 3 different times, for a total of 60 minutes (cervical dilatation was 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm and 8-9 cm during this phase). OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were obtained by using an information form to gather demographic and obstetric characteristics, the labor assessment form for labor and birth records, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to evaluate labor pain severity, an observation-based form for emotional behavior during labor and the Labor Agentry Scale (LAS) to evaluate the emotional state of the mothers. RESULTS: We found that the pain severity in women who received the foot massage decreased after the intervention according to their VAS scores, and they experienced less pain in the postpartum period. In addition, in the intervention group, it was observed that the second and third stages of labor were shorter, the women showed less negative behavioral responses during delivery and were satisfied with their foot massage. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it was determined that foot massage could be effective and reliable intervention in the management of labor pain.