Reflexology: Golden Foot Massage on Leg Cramps for Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Leg cramps have been listed by dialysis patients as one of the major stressors that might cause a variety of psychological and physiological issues. A complementary and alternative therapy called foot reflexology can be utilized in addition to more mainstream medical procedures. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of reflexology foot massage on leg cramps for hemodialysis patients. Design: A quasi-experimental design was applied. Setting: The hemodialysis units are affiliated with Mansoura International Hospital. Results: There was a significant improvement with a highly statistically significant difference in all A novel muscle cramp scale (MCS) items scores, which measure the frequency of reported muscle spasms for hemodialysis patients during the sessions of dialysis pre- and post-application of reflexology foot massage at a P-value <0.001. Conclusion: This study found that reflexology foot massage significantly reduced the frequency, intensity, and length of leg cramps in hemodialysis patients. As a result, it is more successful at reducing leg cramps in these patients. Recommendation: This study recommends introducing reflexology foot massage as routine care in dialysis units, which in turn creates a new area and a new trend in the nursing field, which sequentially increases the value of nursing.