Effect of foot massage to decrease physiological lower leg oedema in late pregnancy: A randomized controlled trial in Turkey

• Published in: International journal of nursing practice Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 454 - 460
• Main Authors: Coban, Ayden, Sirin, Ahsen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01-10-2010; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Anatomy & physiology; Clinical trials; Edema - physiopathology; Edema - therapy; Feet; Female; Foot; Foot massage; Humans; Leg - pathology; lower leg oedema; Massage; Medical disorders; Nursing; Oedema; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Pregnant women; randomized controlled trial; Randomized controlled trials; Turkey; Turkey
• ISSN: 1322-7114; 1440-172X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2010.01869.x

Çoban A, Şirin A. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; 16: 454–460
Effect of foot massage to decrease physiological lower leg oedema in late pregnancy: A randomized controlled trial in Turkey
This study aims to evaluate the effect of foot massage for decreasing physiological lower leg oedema in late pregnancy. Eighty pregnant women were randomly divided into two groups; study group had a 20 min foot massage daily for 5 days whereas the control group did not receive any intervention beyond standard prenatal care. The research was conducted between March and August 2007 in Manisa Province Health Ministry Central Primary Health Care Clinic 1, in Manisa, Western Turkey. Compared with the control group, women in the experimental group had a significantly smaller lower leg circumference (right and left, ankle, instep and metatarsal–phalanges joint) after 5 days of massage. The results obtained from our research show that foot massage was found to have a positive effect on decreasing normal physiological lower leg oedema in late pregnancy.