Effect of Foot Reflexology on Perineal Pain, Fatigue and Healing Quality in Primiparous Patients Undergoing Episiotomy

The act of giving birth can expose women to many risks during pregnancy and the birth process. It causes long-term emotional problems in pregnant women who experience labor pain and negatively affects their mental health. Episiotomy is a method applied to facilitate the birth of the baby by enlarging the vaginal opening. The postpartum period can significantly affect the lives of every mother, especially mothers who have had an episiotomy and vaginal birth. Many factors such as pain, fatigue and the negative effects of anesthetic drugs can negatively affect postpartum comfort and breastfeeding, causing late mother-baby bonding. With the support and information given to women during this period, women can be helped to make healthier and more accurate choices. They increasingly prefer natural methods to cope with problems that arise after birth. Some methods are used to accelerate recovery and prevent potential problems. Reflexology is an energy balancing system and special pressure method applied to reflex points with rubbing, squeezing and patting movements to increase rapid recovery.

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Key information

Conditions

Episiotomy Fatigue Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–49 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kahramanmaraş Necip Fazıl Hospital Maternity and Child Additional Service Building

Kahramanmaraş, 46000, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

The researcher will apply the face-to-face interview method to women who have undergone episiotomy in the postpartum ward located within the additional service building of Kahramanmaraş Necip Fazıl City Hospital, Maternity and Child.

Experimental Group;

First Measurement: Personal Information Form, VAS and YİGBÖ will be applied 3 hours after birth. Then, the first foot reflexology lasting on average 30 minutes will be applied to these women.

Second Measurement: Immediately after the first foot reflexology, the pain intensity will be re-evaluated with VAS.

Third Measurement: 15 hours after birth, the pain level will be re-evaluated with VAS and then the experimental group will be applied foot reflexology for a second time lasting on average 30 minutes.

Fourth Measurement: VAS and YİGBÖ will be applied immediately after the second foot reflexology.

Fifth Measurement: DSİKÖ will be filled in at the 24th hour.

Control Group; First Measurement: Personal Information Form, VAS and YİGBÖ will be applied 3 hours after birth.

Second Measurement: The pain intensity will be re-evaluated with VAS immediately after the first foot reflexology simultaneously with the foot reflexology application schedule applied to the experimental group.

Third Measurement: The pain level will be re-evaluated with VAS 15 hours after birth.

Fourth Measurement: VAS and YİGBÖ will be applied immediately after the second foot reflexology simultaneously with the foot reflexology application schedule applied to the experimental group.

Fifth Measurement: DSİKÖ will be filled in before discharge at the 24th hour. Foot Reflexology Application Procedure Foot reflexology will be applied by the researcher Neziha BAYAZIT, who will receive training on this subject, in the quietest and most comfortable position possible. Foot reflexology will be applied to the women in the experimental group by the researcher. The researcher will receive training on foot reflexology before the study. In the clinic where the study will be conducted, the foot reflexology application hours will be determined considering the analgesic treatment protocol applied. Accordingly, analgesic treatment is routinely applied to women who will receive foot reflexology at the 4th hour according to hospital procedure. Foot reflexology will be applied by the researcher at least 1 hour before the procedure analgesic treatment (3-15 hours after birth). The first foot reflexology will be applied at 3 hours after birth and the same foot reflexology will be repeated 12 hours later at 15 hours. Each woman will be given an explanation before the application. Foot reflexology will be applied in the patient rooms. The application will take approximately 30 minutes.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Being over 18 years old,
Being literate,
Having a gestational age of 37-42 weeks,
Having a newborn weighing between 2500-4000 grams,
Expressing that perineal pain is "moderate" or "severe",
Being open to communication.

Exclusion criteria

No other lacerations (anal sphincter injury, 3rd degree perineal laceration) other than episiotomy,
Newborn weighing between 2500-4000 grams,
Perineal pain stated as "moderate" or "severe",
No complications related to mother and baby in the postpartum period (bleeding, hypertension, babies taken to neonatal intensive care unit, etc.),
No cognitive problems,
No conditions that make reflexology application undesirable such as thrombophlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, epilepsy, febrile illnesses, etc.

Treatment and study plan

Reflexology

Behavioral

Foot reflexology will be applied by the researcher Neziha BAYAZIT, who will receive training on this subject, in the quietest and most comfortable position possible. Foot reflexology will be applied by the researcher to the women in the experimental group. The researcher will receive training on foot reflexology before the study. In the clinic where the study will be conducted, the hours of foot reflexology application will be determined considering the analgesic treatment protocol applied. Accordingly, analgesic treatment is routinely applied to the women who will receive foot reflexology at the 4th hour according to hospital procedure. Foot reflexology will be applied by the researcher at least 1 hour before the analgesic treatment (3rd hour - 15th hour after birth). The same foot reflexology will be repeated 12 hours later at the 15th hour after the first foot reflexology is performed at the 3rd hour after birth. Each woman will be given an explanation before the application. Foot r

Primary outcomes

Effect of Foot Reflexology on Perineal Pain, Fatigue and Quality of Recovery in Primiparous Women Undergoing Episiotomy

Time frame: up to 24. hours after birth

In primiparas who underwent episiotomy, the experimental group was the group to which foot reflexology was applied, while the control group was the group to which foot reflexology was not applied. A personal information form, Visual Analog Scale and Visual Similarity Scale for Fatigue will be filled out for both groups. The VAS is numbered from 0 to 10. Findings have shown that VAS ratings of 0 to 4 mm per 100 mm can be considered no pain; 5 to 44 mm, mild pain; 45 to 74 mm, moderate pain; and 75 to 100 mm, severe pain. Scale ratings assess the effect of foot reflexology on episiotomy.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: May 2, 2025
Registry last updated: May 2, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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