Effect of Foot Reflexology on Stress and Anxiety during Pregnancy | ||||
| The Medical Journal of Cairo University | ||||
| Article 64, Volume 86, June, June 2018, Page 1607-1611 PDF (248.59 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/mjcu.2018.56366 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
| EMAN S.A. EL-FEKEY, M.Sc.; HALA M.H. OMARA, Ph.D.; GHADA E. EL-REFAYE, Ph.D.; MOHAMED F.M. ABOU EL-ENIN, M.D. | ||||
| The Department of Women's Health, Medical National Institute, Damanhour*, the Department of Women's Health, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University** and the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Om El-Masryeen Hospital***, Giza | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Abstract Background: Pregnancy is a period of great stress to a woman both physically and mentally. There is a varied prev-alence of pregnancy anxiety at different trimesters of pregnancy with high levels in first and third trimesters. Aim of the Study: This study was conducted to determine effect of foot reflexology on stress and anxiety during preg-nancy. Patients and Methods: Fifty pregnant women diagnosed clinically by gynecologist/physician as primigravida at their third trimester, they were selected from Outpatient Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Damanhour Medical National Institute suffering from anxiety based on psychiatric assess-ment. Their age ranged from 20 to 30 years. Their Body Mass Index (BMI) <-30kg/m2. They were assigned randomly into two Groups (A,B) equal in numbers. Group (A) received diaphragmatic breathing exercise, 5-10 minutes, 3-4 times per day for 6 weeks. While, Group (B) received diaphragmatic breathing exercise plus reflexology on pressure points in feet for 30 minutes per session, 3 times/week for 6 weeks. Stress and anxiety were evaluated by blood pressure, pulse rate and Hamilton anxiety rating scale before and after the intervention. Results: There was a highly statistical significant decrease in median value of Hamilton anxiety scale of study Group (B) when compared with its corresponding value in control Group (A) with p-value=0.001. Conclusion: These results suggested that the foot reflex-ology was very effective method in improving stress and anxiety during pregnancy. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Pregnancy anxiety – Stress – Nulliparous women – Fear of childbirth – Reflexology | ||||
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