title: Massage as adjuvant therapy in the management of post-cesarean pain and anxiety: A randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conducted to determine the effect of massage on post-cesarean pain and anxiety.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present single-blind clinical trial was conducted on 156 primiparous women undergone elective cesarean section. The participants were randomly divided into three groups, including a hand and foot massage group, a foot massage group and a control group (n = 52 per group). The patients' intensity of pain, vital signs and anxiety level were measured before, immediately after and 90 min after the massage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant reduction was observed in the intensity of pain immediately and 90 min after massage (P < 0.001). Moreover, changes in some of the physiological parameters, including blood pressure and respiration rate, were significant after massage (P < 0.001); however, this change was not significant for pulse rate. A significant reduction was also observed in the level of anxiety (P < 0.001) and a significant increase in the frequency of breastfeeding (P < 0.001) after massage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As an effective nursing intervention presenting no side-effects, hand and foot massage can be helpful in the management of postoperative pain and stress.
authors: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Department of Amol, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Electronic address: s.saatsaz@mazums.ac.ir.
authors: Sussan
authors: S
authors: Saatsaz
authors: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Department of Amol, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Electronic address: r.rezaei@mazums.ac.ir.
authors: Rozita
authors: R
authors: Rezaei
authors: Thalassemia Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Electronic address: alipour.abbas59@gmail.com.
authors: Abbas
authors: A
authors: Alipour
authors: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Department of Amol, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Electronic address: z.beheshti@mazums.ac.ir.
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Beheshti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006225:Hand; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxiety; Cesarean section; Massage; Pain