Effects of Foot Reflexology and Tactile Stimulation on Consciousness and Physiological Indicators of Traumatic Patients

Brain injuries are a major cause of mortality and disability. Sensory stimulation can reduce the complications of brain injuries in the patients. 

To compare the effect of foot reflexology with tactile stimulation of the hand on level of consciousness and physiological indicators in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients 

60 TBI patients hospitalized in the ICU of selected hospitals in Qazvin, Iran assigned to three intervention groups and one control group using block randomization. The patients were matched using the glasgow coma scale (GCS) (score of 8) and the Richmond agitation and sedation scale (RASS) (scores -2 to +2). The first intervention group received tactile stimulation of the hand from the wrist downwards, the second intervention group received foot reflexology, and the third both tactile stimulation and foot reflexology, while the controls received routine care. The Data collected were analyzed in SPSS V. 21. P<0.05 was set as the level of statistical significance.

The Mean±SD level of consciousness was the highest in the foot reflexology group(9.38±3.3) compared to that in the group of tactile stimulation of the hand (9.03±2.18), the group receiving both treatments (7.96±1.8) and the control group (6.92±3.3) (P<0.001). The findings also revealed reductions in the heart rate, respiratory rate and systolic blood pressure and increases in peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (O2 sat) and level of consciousness in the TBI of the foot reflexology group.

Foot reflexology can decrease the heart rate, respiratory rate and systolic blood pressure, and increase O2 sat in TBI patients and increase the level of consciousness.