title: [Effects of foot reflexology on essential hypertension patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was to evaluate the effects of foot reflexology on blood pressure, serum lipids level and life satisfaction in essential hypertension patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research design used was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Foot Reflexology was used as the experimental treatment from June 23rd, 2003 until August 31st, 2003. Thirty-four subjects were assigned to an experimental group(18) and control group(16). Foot Reflexology was administered twice a week for 6 weeks and self foot Reflexology was administered twice a week for 4 weeks on the experimental group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure but no significant decrease in diastolic pressure in the experimental group compared to the control group. The total cholesterol level in the experimental group compared to the control group was not significantly decreased after foot reflexology. However, the triglyceride level in the experimental group compared to the control group was significantly decreased after foot reflexology. On the other hand, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein levels in the experimental group compared to the control group was not significantly decreased after foot reflexology. Life satisfaction in the experimental group compared to the control group was significantly improved after foot reflexology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results proved that foot reflexology was an effective nursing intervention to decrease systolic pressure, and triglyceride but not for the blood cholesterol and to improve life satisfaction. Therefore, blood cholesterol should be further evaluated in a larger group of subjects and for a longer period. Further research is regarded as necessary to evaluate and to compare effects of self-foot reflexology and foot reflexology.
authors.affiliation: Department ot Nursing, Pusan National University, Psan 602-739, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyoung-Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Gyoo-Yeong
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids