The Effects of Aroma Foot Massage on Blood Pressure and Anxiety in Japanese Community-Dwelling Men and Women: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial.

Eri Eguchi,Kiyohide Tomooka,Narumi Funakubo,Keiki Ogino,Tetsuya Ohira,Takeshi Tanigawa,Yoshihiro Fukumoto

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0151712

Eri Eguchi, Kiyohide Tomooka + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151712

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Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aroma foot massage on blood pressure, anxiety, and health-related quality of life (QOL) in Japanese community-dwelling men and women using a crossover randomized controlled trial.MethodsFifty-seven eligible participants (5 men and 52 women) aged 27 to 72 were randomly divided into 2 intervention groups (group A: n = 29; group B: n = 28) to participate in aroma foot massages 12 times during the 4-week intervention period. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively), heart rate, state anxiety, and health-related QOL were measured at the baseline, 4-week follow-up, and 8-week follow-up. The effects of the aroma foot massage intervention on these factors and the proportion of participants with anxiety were analyzed using a linear mixed-effect model for a crossover design adjusted for participant and period effects. Furthermore, the relationship between the changes in SBP and state anxiety among participants with relieved anxiety was assessed using a linear regression model.ResultsAroma foot massage significantly decreased the mean SBP (p = 0.02), DBP (p = 0.006), and state anxiety (p = 0.003) as well as the proportion of participants with anxiety (p = 0.003). Although it was not statistically significant (p = 0.088), aroma foot massage also increased the score of mental health-related QOL. The change in SBP had a significant and positive correlation with the change in state anxiety (p = 0.01) among participants with relieved anxiety.ConclusionThe self-administered aroma foot massage intervention significantly decreased the mean SBP and DBP as well as the state anxiety score, and tended to increase the mental health-related QOL scores. The results suggest that aroma foot massage may be an easy and effective way to improve mental health and blood pressure.Trial RegistrationUniversity Hospital Medical Information Network 000014260

Highlights

Mental stress and anxiety are major causes of hypertension and mortality from cardiovascular diseases
The results suggest that aroma foot massage may be an easy and effective way to improve mental health and blood pressure
The intervention effects of aroma foot massage on SBP and DBP, state anxiety, health-related quality of life (QOL), and the proportion of participants with anxiety were analyzed using a linear mixed-effect model for a crossover design adjusted for participant and period effects

Summary

Introduction

Mental stress and anxiety are major causes of hypertension and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. Acute mental stress has been shown to trigger cardiac catastrophes such as acute myocardial infarction and sudden death [2]. According to Walker et al, each year 14% of deaths worldwide (approximately 8 million deaths) are ascribed to mental disorders such as anxiety and depression [3]. According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in 2014, more than 60% of workers reported feeling stress, anxiety, and worry. It is important to reduce mental stress and anxiety to increase quality of life (QOL) and prevent cardiovascular diseases

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