The Effect of Limb Massage on Arterial Blood Oxygen Saturation and Body Temperature Changes in Patients Undergoing Surgery

The use of massage as a safe method to control and manage complications after major surgery is recommended.

This study aimed to determine the effect of this method on arterial blood oxygen saturation and temperature changes in patients after abdominal and thoracic surgery.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 patients undergoing surgery in Shahrekord city in 2019. They were enrolled in the study by convenience sampling and assigned to the intervention and control groups by the blocking method. In the intervention group, a hand and foot massage was performed at 5-minute intervals for 4 sessions on each patient’s limb 3 times a day. The control group received routine care. Data were collected by a demographic questionnaire, pulse-oximetry, and thermometer. They were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and descriptive and inferential statistical tests (t-test, paired t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA)).

The mean arterial blood oxygen saturation in the groups after the intervention did not show a significant difference compared to before (P = 0.95), but its mean was significantly higher in the intervention group after the intervention than before (P < 0.001). The mean temperature in the 2 groups after the intervention did not show a significant difference compared to before (P = 0.38), but the changes in the mean were significant in the massage group after the intervention compared to before (P = 0.019).

The hand and foot massage can be used by nurses along with the required medical care to improve arterial blood oxygen saturation and reduce body temperature. Further research in this area is suggested.