4 Body Sense
B O D Y T A L K
4 Body Sense
Foot Massage Reduces Pain
for Intensive Care Patients
A recent study published in Evidence-Based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine found
that foot massage can ease the pain of patients in
intensive care units (ICUs).
The study's authors say pain is a common stressor
in ICUs, often left untreated due to the patient's
low levels of consciousness, sedative drugs, and
mechanical ventilation. When left unchecked, pain
and anxiety affect the nervous system resulting
in changes in the patient's vital signs, myocardial
ischemia, mental disorders and delirium, and sleep
quality. Pain can also cause ICU patients to fight
their ventilator, remove catheters, and become
more agitated. Delayed wound healing, prolonged
patient stays in the ICU, and ultimate illness and
increased mortality are other factors influenced by
unaddressed pain in ICU patients.
In the controlled study, 75 subjects were divided
into three groups: foot massage provided by a
nurse, foot massage provided by the patient's
family, and a control group that did not receive
massage. In the massage (intervention) groups,
Swedish massage was performed for 5 minutes on
each foot, once a day for six days. Pain scores were
examined before the intervention, immediately
after the intervention, and one week following
the intervention. Results found that both massage
groups showed a significant reduction in pain as
compared to the control group.
Read the full study at Evidence-Based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
