Abstract
Aims: Reflex therapy relieves tension, relaxes the mind, improves the circulation of the body. In hypertension, vascular resistance increases the pressure of the blood vessels. The study was aimed to assess the pretest and post-test levels of stress and blood pressure (BP), evaluate the effectiveness of the reflex therapy among older adults with hypertension, and to associate the level of stress and BP with demographic variables.
 Study Design: Community-based randomized controlled trial was adopted.
 Place and Duration of Study: The urban area, Poonamallee, in Chennai, between October to December 2019.
 Methodology: Among 100 older adults, 50 participants were selected in each experimental and control group by using simple randomization. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and dual function BP monitor was used to assess the stress and BP respectively. Reflex therapy was provided for 6 weeks to the older adults with hypertension, who had low and moderate levels of stress in the experimental group. The different pressures such as 100%, 75%, and 50%, that was applied in the foot for 15 minutes weekly twice by reflexology stick, when the participants were in an empty stomach. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
 Results: The mean and standard deviation value of pretest and post-test stress level was 14.84±6.02, 9.4±4.73 in experimental group, 13.32±5.3 and 13.04±5.09 in control group respectively. This proves that reflex therapy was effective in reducing stress levels which was statistically significant (P=0.001). Mean and standard deviation of systolic BP in pretest and post-test was 142.74±5.98 and 137.78±5.69; 141.11±6.18 and 142.03±6.29, and diastolic BP was 98.21±3.28; 97.31±3.15 and 97.94±3.59; 98.96±3.34 in experimental and control group respectively indicated that the reflex therapy helps to reduce the level of BP (P=0.001).
 Conclusion: Reflex therapy is beneficial to older adults particularly with hypertension for relieving stress and reducing systolic and diastolic BP.
Highlights
Aging is a process of human beings as a biological experience for them in this world
This was supported by a similar study on the effect of reflexology on stress management done by Bernard Payrau et al (2017) which evidenced that analysis of covariance performance adjusting on stress level into 41.73 from 44.89 [15]
Some of the people with hypertension blood pressure (BP) is increased even though they are under treatment of antihypertensive drugs
Summary
Aging is a process of human beings as a biological experience for them in this world. During this process, sequential changes are happening throughout the human’s life span. Sequential changes are happening throughout the human’s life span Though it is a multidimensional process, it is the last stage of life for an individual [1]. According to the World Health Organization, currently in the world’s population around 10% is comprised of older adults with the age of 65 years and above. This figure is set to rise as 30% in some societies. Major challenges are faced by many countries globally to make sure that their health and social systems are prepared to face the most of this demographic transition [2]
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