Effect of foot reflexology on sternotomy pain after CABG surgery

This study was to investigate the effect of foot reflexology on sternotomy pain of patients undergone CABG surgery. In a quasi-experimental study, 90 patients randomly divided into three groups of case, control and placebo. The reflexology group received a 10-minute left foot massage in desired location, twice a day with 6-hours interval for 2 consecutive days. The placebo group undertook a 10-minute right foot massage and the control group receiving no intervention, only at the time mentioned, the amount of visual analogue scale measured. The mean of pain intensity before and after intervention in three groups had a significant difference (p<0.001). Average of pain intensity in the case group before the intervention was 6.4(±2.1) and after intervention was 3.4(±5.1). The mean of pain intensity in control group before and after intervention was respectively 5.1(±1.7) and 5(±1.9). Independent t-test showed a significant reduction in intensity of preoperative pain between case and control groups (p<0.001). Foot reflexology appears to be a useful method for reducing sternotomy pain in patients after CABG surgery.