Volume 4, Issue 2 (Spring 2018 -- 2018)                   JCCNC 2018, 4(2): 96-103 | Back to browse issues page


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1- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. , bastani.f@iums.ac.ir
3- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:   (6454 Views)
Background: Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a common disorder in the elderly, especially older women, which causes sleep disorders and endangers the elderly with increase in the risk of falling, memory disturbances, and eventually, poor quality of life. Today, non-pharmacological approaches, including reflexology massage, are considered along with pharmaceutical methods for improving sleep quality. This study aims to examine the effect of foot reflexology massage on the sleep quality of the elderly women with RLS.
Methods: The was a non-randomized clinical trial with a control group (quasi-experimental design) conducted on 67 elderly women with RLS resident in nursing homes located in Fars Province of Iran. Samples were selected using convenience sampling method. By tossing a coin, some elderlies were selected and allocated in the control and test groups. Foot reflexology intervention comprised eight 20-minute sessions (10 min for each foot) for 4 weeks. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a demographic questionnaire were used for collecting data which were administered before and after the intervention. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS V. 16 using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as Independent t test, paired t test, Fisher exact test, and Chi-squared test at a significance level of P<0.05.
Results: The Mean±SD ages of the participants in test and control group were 71.43±6.25 and 72.6±4.67 years, respectively and both groups were matched in terms of age (P=0.389). There was no significant difference in sleep quality of the control group before and after the intervention (P=0.013 or 0.13), while in the test group the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). In addition, the difference in RLS pain scores before and after the intervention was significantly lower in the test group compared to the control group (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Foot reflexology massage had a positive effect on the sleep quality of the elderly women with RLS. Caregivers and nurses of the elderly are recommended to learn and use this easy and almost cost-free intervention for their patients.
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● Foot reflexology massage improves sleep quality of the elderly women with restless legs syndrome.
● Elderly often suffer from many physical complications including restless legs syndrome.
● Foot reflexology can be used as a safe and non-medicinal intervention in older women with restless legs syndrome.
Plain Language Summary
This paper reports the effect of foot reflexology massage on sleep quality of the elderly women with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). This syndrome causes unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them. It is a common neurological movement disorder that its prevalence increases with age. Women are twice as likely to develop RLS. Symptoms commonly occur in the late afternoon or evening hours, and are often most severe at night when an older adults are resting or lying in bed. On the other hand, sleep quality changes as a function of normal aging, both in terms of decreased duration and consolidation, and it plays a critical role in promoting good health. Unfortunately, sleep quality is usually worse at night in older adults with RLS. Because of the effects of RLS on the life of older adults, treatment plan to relieve RLS symptoms is important. Leg massage is an easy and relaxing treatment that could ease RLS symptoms. Reflexology as a foot massage involves application of pressure to the feet with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. The results showed that the foot reflexology massage had a positive effect on the sleep quality of the elderly women with RLS. It is recommended that

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2017/11/25 | Accepted: 2018/03/13 | Published: 2018/05/1

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