The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Pain intensity after Spine Surgery

Introduction: The pain after spine surgery is severe. It caused by pressure on nerve roots that induced by inflammation, adhesion and tissue fibrosis in surgery area. In spite of using different methods for pain control, most patients still have pain after spine surgery. Foot reflexology as branch of complementary medicine has been effective in relieving pain. It may be efficient to reduce the pain after spine surgery through release of the endorphins and block of ascending neural pathways, if used along with routine treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effect of foot reflexology on pain intensity in patients after spine surgery. Materials and Methods: This study was two groups, randomized clinical trial that was performed on 60 patients undergoing spinal surgery in hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Samples were randomly assigned to the intervention (Foot Reflexology) or control group equally according to entry criteria. In intervention group, foot reflexology was done in 20 minute from the first day after surgery in addition to routine measures. The procedure of reflexology was trained to the patient and his entourage. During hospitalization, foot reflexology was done by patient on daily basis. During the period, researcher supervised the performance of the patient. After discharge, it was continued times in week for weeks by patient. In control group, routine care was done only. In both groups, severity of pain was measured before surgery, the first day after surgery, discharge time and then one week and weeks after surgery, using the visual scale of pain. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of variables such as age, sex, marriage, occupation, education, diagnosis, consumable drugs, area and size of surgical cutting, and duration of surgery. The mean age of the samples was 43.3±11.5 years, 49% were males and 51% were females. The mean of pain intensity before surgery in the intervention group was 7.1±1.8 and in the control group was 7±1.3%, and there was no statistically significant difference. The mean of pain intensity in the intervention group on the first day after surgery, discharge time, one week and weeks after surgery was 6.7±1.2, 5.8±1.3, 4.1±1, 2.8 ±0.7 and in the control group was 6.8±0.9, 6.7±0.9, 7.2±1.3, 5.5±1.2, respectively. The analysis of variance of repeated measures showed significant difference in the mean pain intensity between the two groups at different times after surgery. Also, in the intervention group, the severity of pain was significantly decreased on the first day after surgery, discharge time, one week and weeks after surgery, but in the control group up to one week after discharge, this difference was not significant. Conclusion: Foot reflexology can be effective in decreasing the pain intensity of patients after spinal surgery and is recommended by the patient himself as care action along with routine therapies.

کلیدواژه ها:

Foot reflexology ، spinal surgery ، pain intensity