Effect of foot reflexology on headache due to nitroglycerin injection: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Introduction: Infusion of nitroglycerin often causes side effects including headache in patients. Therefore, various methods are used for patients’ relief of headache. Foot reflexology can reduce patients’ pain and suffering. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of foot reflexology on the severity of headache caused by the infusion of nitroglycerin.  Methods: In this randomized triple-blind clinical trial, 60 cardiac patients undergoing nitroglycerine infusion after sampling by convenience method, randomly selected and assigned by random allocation method to 30 patients either the control or intervention groups. were divided into intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, foot reflexology was performed in both legs for 10 minutes (5 minutes for each leg) according to the Ingham method. Only a superficial touch was provided to the patients in the placebo group. At intervals of 15 minutes after the first intervention, the second intervention was repeated for 10 minutes (5 minutes for each foot). Pain was recorded 3 times as before the intervention and after each intervention by nurses who were unaware about the allocation of samples into the groups. Data was collected using the demographic information and McGill pain scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis using SPSS v.21 software. Results: No statistically significant differences in the severity of pain before the intervention were found between the groups (p<0.88), but a statistically significant difference between the two groups after the intervention were found (p<0.001), as foot reflexology had a medium effect was found on headache. Conclusions: There was a reduction in headache in the intervention group compared to the control group. Therefore, foot reflexology for reduction of headache in patients receiving nitroglycerin infusion was feasible and associated with improvement or modification of patients' pain.