Effect of Foot Reflexology on Stress and Anxiety during Pregnancy

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.