The Effect of Foot Reflexology Massage on Pain and Fatigue of Patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Background and Pain and fatigue are complications after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Because of non- pharmacological methods are the preferred pharmacological agent therefore; the purpose of this study was assessment of effect of foot reflexology on pain and fatigue in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial، conducted on 80 patients hospitalized in the Heart Center of Mazandaran in 2011. Sampling was in manner of Non-random and accessible. Patients were age and sex matched and divided randomly in two equal groups of case and control. The reflexology group received 20- minutes left foot massage، from the second day after surgery for 4 consecutive days. In the control group، patient''s left foot without applying any pressure and only for 1 minute was fat. Variables pain and fatigue before and after the intervention was recorded by the use of visual analogue scale at the time mentioned. The findings were analyzed by using the software SPSS version 17، descriptive and inferential statistics and tests of x2 and Repeated measurments. Results showed that there is a significant differences in pain levels before and after the intervention between experimental and control groups (P= 0. 0001). Also، a significant difference confirmed in before and after fatigue levels between experimental and control groups (P= 0. 0001). According to the study results، Foot reflexology massage، as one of the branches of complementary alternative method can reduce fatigue and pain in CABG patients. Because of its the low cost، the lack of side effects and ease of the procedure to reduce pain and fatigue reflexology massage can be recommended in patients with CABG.