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NCT Number: NCT07432074

The Effects of Acupressure and Massage Following Cesarean Section

Cesarean section births have rapidly increased both in our country and worldwide in recent years. According to OECD data, one in four births worldwide and one in two births in our country is a cesarean section. The cesarean section has become one of the most frequently performed surgical interventions. The incision from a cesarean section causes pain, mobilization issues, and delays in mother-infant interaction. The choice of pharmacological methods used after a cesarean section is often limited by concerns about the baby and breastfeeding, leading to inadequate pain management and causing women to experience moderate to high levels of pain. Pain negatively affects individuals' comfort, leading to sleep disturbances, fatigue, and a decreased quality of life. It makes daily activities and responsibilities as individuals more challenging to manage. There is a need for nurses, in their primary caregiver role, to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to pain management and to develop their skills in using non-pharmacological methods. These methods should be clinically applied and proven effective. Acupressure and massage are long-standing, cost-effective, easy-to-apply, and effective methods used to reduce pain. This study aims to reduce pain and fatigue and improve sleep quality in women who have undergone a cesarean section by applying acupressure and massage in the postoperative period, thereby preventing the chronicization of these problems.

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Key information

Conditions

Pain Management Acupressure Agnosia Dyssomnias Fatigue Massage Effect Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Perceptual Disorders Signs and Symptoms Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders Sleep Quality Sleep Wake Disorders

Age range

18 year–45 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Marmara University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Women aged 18-45 years
  • Undergoing cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia,
  • Having a term, single, and healthy newborn,
  • Gestational age of 37-40 weeks,
  • No communication difficulties,
  • No systemic or chronic diseases,
  • Willing to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Undergoing cesarean delivery under general or epidural anesthesia,
  • Development of any maternal or neonatal complications during the postpartum period (hypertension, hemorrhage, infants requiring intensive care, etc.),
  • Having chronic fatigue or pain problems,
  • Using caffeine (tea, coffee, chocolate, etc.).

Treatment and study plan

Acupressure to points HT7, LI4, SP6 and ST36

Other

This point specialized for pain management, fatigue and sleep

Massage

Other

back massage

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual Analog Scale for Pain

    Time frame: Periprocedural (immediately after the intervention or standard care)

    Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS), a 10-cm horizontal line ranging from 0 to 10, where:

    • 0 = no pain
    • 10 = unbearable pain

Secondary outcomes

  1. Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale

    Time frame: 15 minutes after completion of the intervention

    Sleep quality was measured using the Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale, a 14-item questionnaire scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = Never to 4 = Always). Total scores range from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality (worse outcome). The scale has no cut-off value. Assessments were performed before and after the intervention.

  2. Postnatal Accumulated Fatigue Scale

    Time frame: 15 minutes after completion of the intervention

    Fatigue was assessed using the Postnatal Accumulated Fatigue Scale, a 13-item questionnaire comprising three subdomains (physical fatigue, emotional fatigue, and cognitive fatigue). Each item is scored as 0 = Almost none, 1 = Sometimes, and 3 = Mostly/Often. Total scores range from 0 to 39, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue (worse outcome). The scale has no cut-off value. Assessments were performed before and after the intervention.

Other outcomes

  1. PERSONAL INFORMATION FORM

    Time frame: Baseline (prior to intervention)

    Baseline demographic and obstetric characteristics were collected using a Personal Information Form administered once prior to the intervention.

  2. Intervention Satisfaction Form

    Time frame: 15 minutes post-intervention

    Satisfaction with the intervention was assessed using the Intervention Satisfaction Form, a Visual Analog Scale-based measure ranging from 0 to 10, where:

    • 0 = not satisfied
    • 10 = very satisfied

    Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction (better outcome).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Marmara University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effects of Acupressure and Back Massage on Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality in Cesarean Sections: A Randomized Controlled Study

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Feb 25, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 25, 2026

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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