Open AccessThe Effect of Foot Reflexology on Fatigue, Sleep Quality and Anxiety in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Author(s) -
Mahbobeh Sajadi,
Fahimeh Davodabady,
Mohsen Ebrahimi-Monfared
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
archives of neuroscience/archives of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.116
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2322-5769
pISSN - 2322-3944
DOI - 10.5812/ans.102591
Subject(s) - reflexology , medicine , pittsburgh sleep quality index , physical therapy , anxiety , quality of life (healthcare) , randomized controlled trial , placebo , foot (prosody) , sleep hygiene , sleep quality , massage , insomnia , psychiatry , alternative medicine , nursing , linguistics , philosophy , pathology
Background: Fatigue, sleep disorders, and anxiety are common symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. MS reduced the quality of life by these symptoms in patients. Studies have shown that foot reflexology may reduce some problems of this disease. Objectives: The present randomized controlled trial study investigated the effect of reflexology on fatigue, sleep quality, and anxiety in patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods: This study included 63 patients with MS referred to Arak MS society in 2018 - 2019. Reflexology and placebo intervention had applied twice a week for 4 weeks, and each session lasted about 30 - 40 minutes. Fatigue Impact scale (FIS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) was used for data collection before and after the intervention. A significant statistical level was considered 0.05. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software (V. 16.0). Results: Significant improvement was observed in physical fatigue (P = 0.042), sleep quality (P = 0.001) and anxiety (P = 0.034) in the reflexology group after the intervention. Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) revealed a decrease in fatigue level in MS patients, but these alterations were not significant (P = 0.134). Conclusions: Reflexology is a non-invasive, simple, affordable, and low-cost nursing intervention that can be helpful in reducing physical fatigue, anxiety, and improving sleep quality of people with MS.