The Effect of Massage Ball Application on Arterial Blood Pressure, Fatigue and Anxiety in Pregnant Women Diagnosed With Preeclampsia

Hypertensive disorders are one of the common disorders in pregnancy that cause complications in the mother and the fetus. Preeclampsia, one of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, is defined as the presence of hypertension, proteinuria or organ damage that occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. Preeclampsia affects 5% to 7% of all pregnancies. It causes more than 70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 fetal deaths worldwide each year. Preeclampsia is among the main causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. Preeclampsia is the first cause of maternal death due to hypertension. According to the report on causes of maternal death in our country, 14.2% of pregnant women died due to hypertensive diseases in 2019. Pregnancy-induced hypertension is the second leading cause of maternal deaths. Preeclampsia causes increased blood pressure in pregnant women, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular accidents, and dysfunction in organs such as the liver, kidney and uterus. In addition to affecting the systems, it is also a condition that causes anxiety and fatigue in pregnant women. The most effective treatment for preeclampsia is delivery. In hospital, treatment includes MgSO4 therapy, blood pressure monitoring, urine monitoring, a high-protein and salt-restricted diet, and control of fetal movements and midwifery care to keep blood pressure at normal levels and prevent eclampsia. In addition to medical treatment in preeclampsia, complementary treatments such as music therapy, acupuncture and massage are also used. Massage application helps relax the muscles. It is stated that massage applied to pregnant women positively affects anxiety, blood pressure and fatigue. Equipment such as tennis ball, golf ball and massage ball are used for muscle relaxation. It is thought that massage ball application, one of the methods used in massage, will reduce anxiety, fatigue and be effective in lowering blood pressure.