Comparison of the effect of Hoku Point (LI4) acupressure with that of San-Yin-Jiao (SP6) acupressure on labor pain and the length of delivery time in primiparous women

Labor pain is very severe. Unrelieved labor pain can increase catecholamine levels and have adverse effects on the mother and infant. Labor pain is usually accompanied by fear, which can cause slow progress of labor. Analgesic medications are not prescribed because of their adverse effects on women and their infants. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Hoku Point (LI4) acupressure and San-Yin-Jiao (SP6) acupressure on pain intensity in primiparous women during the active phase of labor in Iran Hospital in Iranshahr city in 2008-2009. This was a randomized controlled trial and included 90 primiparous women in Iran Hospital in Iranshahr. The subjects were randomly assigned into 3 equivalent groups (n=30): Hoku, SanYinJiao and control groups. Data of each woman were recorded in a questionnaire. Labor pain was measured by means of a subjective labor pain scale (VAS), before and after the intervention at the stages of 4, 6, 8 and 10 cm cervical dilation. Length of delivery time was calculated in two stages: from 4 cm cervical dilation to10 cm cervical dilatation, and 10cm cervical dilatation to the delivery. The SanYinJiao group received acupressure at SanYinJiao point (four-finger widths patient’s fingers above the tip of the inner malleous, just posterior to the border of tibia above the ankle), for 20 minutes on two feet during contractions. Hoku group received acupressure at Hoku Point (over the area of the web of skin between the thumb and the forefinger) in the same manner on both hands of the subjects. Using SPSS software, data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests. The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the severity of the pain pre and post intervention at 4 cm dilatation, and post intervention at 4, 6 and 8 cervical dilation in the 3 groups (p<0/001). There was not a significant difference at the stage of 10 cm cervical dilation between the groups (p=0.7). There was a significant difference in the duration of the active phase of labor between 3 groups (p<0/001). There was not a significant difference in the length of delivery time between the groups (p=0.7). According to the results of this study, it seems that acupressure affects the intensity of labor pain and shortens the duration of the active phase of labor. Also acupressure may be useful for the women who prefer a nonpharmacological analgesia without side-effects.