[Effects of self-foot reflexology on stress, fatigue and blood circulation in premenopausal middle-aged women].
OBJECTIVE
This study was to examine the effects of self-foot reflexology on stress, fatigue and blood circulation in premenopausal middle-aged women.


METHODS
A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group, pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were 59 premenopausal, middle-aged women in their 40s and 60s living in G city: 30 in the experiment group and 29 in the control group. Data were collected from May to August 2008. Self-foot reflexology was performed three times a week for 6 weeks for 40 min at each session.


RESULTS
The results showed that self-foot reflexology was effective in reducing perceived stress and fatigue and helped blood circulation in premenopausal middle-aged women.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-foot reflexology may be an effective nursing intervention in reducing perceived stress and fatigue and in improving blood circulation.
Jang
Soo Hyun
SH
Department of Nursing, Songwon College, Korea.
Kim
Kye Ha
KH
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003710:Demography; D005221:Fatigue / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*