Effect of Foot Reflexology on Postpartum Afterpains

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Pain, Labor

• Registration Number: NCT06951750
• Lead Sponsor: Cairo University

Brief Summary

This study will be conducted to determine the effect of foot reflexology on afterpains after normal labor.

Detailed Description

Afterpains are among the most prevalent complaints after natural vaginal delivery. Non-pharmacological treatment modalities to relieve afterpains are an important care priority as they can lead to maternal and neonatal complications including anxiety, sleep disturbances, emotional disorders, depression, inability to care for the baby and continue breastfeeding, delays in early breastfeeding, reduced maternal ability to perform daily chores.

It was reported that pain in the early hours postpartum is one of the most important factors contributing to chronic postpartum pain and depression. Furthermore, pain and stress increase adrenaline release and decrease oxytocin release, thus leading to the cessation of the oxytocin reflex and disrupting breast milk production in addition to causing discomfort for the mother.

Since afterpains is a common problem that affects the physical and mental well-being of mothers, it requires the attention of healthcare providers. There is only one study that investigated the effect of reflexology on the pain level of afterpains after normal vaginal delivery. Moreover, no study investigated the effect of reflexology on either the behavioral response toward pain or the pressure pain threshold. Therefore, this study will be conducted to provide physiotherapists with updated scientific Knowledge concerning the effect of foot reflexology on afterpains after normal labor. This Study may expand the role of physiotherapy in women's health.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Study First Submitted: 2025-04-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-04-23
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-23
• Study Start: 2025-04-30
• Study First Posted: 2025-04-30
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-30
• Primary Completion: 2025-06-30
• Study Completion: 2025-07-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 36

Inclusion Criteria

• They will be multipara (2-3).
• They will be normal vaginal labor

Exclusion Criteria

• High-risk pregnancy.
• Post-partum hemorrhage.
• Neonatal birth weight over 4 kg.
• Over distension of the uterus.
• Cesarean section.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Assessment of pain intensity	4 hours	It will be used to assess pain levels in women in both groups before treatment (1 hour postpartum), after 2 hours, 3 hours and 4 hours postpartum. It comprises 16 items that reflect equally the sensory (11 items) and affective (5 items) dimensions of pain. These items were responded to by 5 points Likert-like scale as follows: 0 = none, 1= Mild, 2 = Moderate 3 =Severe, 4 = Unbearable pain. The total score will be ranged between 0 to 60 and classified as follows: No pain = 0, mild pain (from 1 to 15), moderate pain (from 16 to 30), severe pain (from 31 to 45), and unbearable pain (from 46 to 60). These pain-rating scales have shown good validity and reliability for assessing pain intensity. The intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.95
Modified version of chamber price pain Rating Scale	4 hours	This tool was adapted for measuring any behavioral responses towards pain including 4 dimensions: Gross motor activity, posture, verbalization, and facial expression. For each dimension, one of 3 alternatives (0, 1, and 2) is to be elicited by the researcher. For posture, the alternatives are very relaxed, guarded, and tense posture. For gross motor activity, the alternatives are very restless, slightly restless, and quiet. For facial expression, alternatives are not frowning, some frowning, and constant frowning or grimacing. Lastly, women's verbalization differs between normal, no sound, groans/moans, and cries/sobs. The total score of the 4 dimensions varies between 0-8 and is categorized as follows: no pain (0) mild pain (1-2), moderate pain (3-4), severe pain (5-6), and intolerable pain (7- 8). it will be measured for both groups before treatment (1 hour postpartum), after 2 hours, 3 hours and 4 hours postpartum.
Pressure pain threshold (PPT):	4 hours	The pressure algometer will be used to measure deep muscular tissue sensitivity for participants in both groups before treatment (1 hour postpartum), after 2 hours, 3 hours and 4 hours postpartum.. The test determines the amount of pressure over a given area in which a steadily increasing no-painful-pressure stimulus turns into a painful pressure sensation. A varying pressure is applied from 0.5 to 1 kg/sec in a perpendicular direction relative to the muscle. Six points will be determined to evaluate the PPTs. PPT recording sites will be marked out the abdomen around the umbilical scar and lumbar region as follows: Two measurements 4 cm from the umbilicus, bilaterally (points I and II), two other measurements 4 cm below the previous ones (points III and IV), a single measurement 4 cm from the lower margin of the umbilicus (point V) and another single measurement into the medial side of the lumbar region below the fifth lumbar vertebra, correspond-in to S2-S4 (point VI).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hala Ismail Mahmoud; 🇪🇬 Cairo, Egypt