ARYA Atherosclerosis Journal

The effect of reflexotherapy and massage therapy on vital signs and stress before coronary angiography: An open-label clinical trial

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

Ali Khaledifar 1
Marzeih Nasiri 2
Borzoo Khaledifar 3
Arsalan Khaledifar 2
Ali Mokhtari 4

1 Medical Intern, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

4 General Practitioner, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Complementary medicine interventions are now successfully used to reduce stress as well as to stabilize hemodynamic indices within different procedures. The present study aimed to examine the effect of massage therapy and reflexotherapy on reducing stress in patients before coronary angiography. METHODS: In this open-label clinical trial, 75 consecutive patients who were candidate for coronary angiography were randomly assigned to receive reflexotherapy (n = 25), or massage therapy (n = 25), or routine care (n = 25) before angiography. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to determine the stress level of patients before and after interventions and vital signs were also measured. RESULTS: Improvement in diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate was shown in the reflexotherapy group, and similar effects were observed following other interventions including massage therapy and routine resting program. In subjects who received reflexotherapy the level of stress decreased slightly compared with the other two groups. However, following interventions the level of stress in reflexotherapy group was shown to be lower than other study groups. CONCLUSION: Reflexotherapy before coronary angiography can help to stabilize vital sign as well as reduce the level of stress. The effect of massage therapy was limited to reducing stress.   

Keywords

Reflexotherapy
Massage Therapy
Coronary Angiography
Vital Signs
Emotional Stress
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ARYA Atherosclerosis Journal
Volume 13, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
March and April 2017
Pages 50-55

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