The Effect of Back Massage Applied to Mothers in the Early Postpartum Period on Comfort, Pain, Anxiety, and Physiological Parameters

For this purpose, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions should be made for these conditions seen in the postpartum period. It is possible to increase the quality of health care, to make a difference in patient care results and clinical practices, to increase patient satisfaction rates and to standardize care, especially by using non-pharmacological methods whose effectiveness has been proven by health professionals. As a matter of fact, studies indicate that postpartum women who receive effective nursing care are highly satisfied (88-90%) with the care services they receive. It is important for health professionals to follow current and high-evidence studies, conduct research on their own development and participate in in-service programs in order to increase the quality of health care. There are many practices such as aromatherapy and yoga applied in the postpartum period. Massage is one of them.

Massage is a process applied systematically to the soft tissues of the body, providing relaxation and mental relief. Theoretically, massage stimulates peripheral receptors in the skin. The stimuli reach the brain via the spinal cord and provide general relaxation. Massage reduces cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline levels by regulating the autonomic nervous system. The amygdala may also modulate neural activity in the forebrain and control network. The pressure in massage application increases blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, causing changes in heart rate and blood pressure. This non-pharmacological method helps to increase comfort by relaxing the muscles, increase the release of endorphins, urinary serotonin and dopamine, decrease salivary and urinary cortisol levels, reduce pain and edema, and treat psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. If it is determined that the massage application, which is easy to apply and effective, has a positive effect on physiological parameters such as comfort, pain, anxiety and blood pressure, pulse, fever, oxygen saturation and respiratory rate, as well as other parameters measured in the postpartum period, it can be used in the application area. This is where the originality of our work comes from. For this reason, it is aimed to contribute to the literature with this study.