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Abstract Introduction Population aging is a problem that has affected most countries in the world. Poor-quality sleep is a common complaint among the elderly. Foot baths are a method of heat therapy and are performed as an independent nursing care in different departments. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of foot baths with spa on improving the sleep quality of the elderly. Methods This research is a systematic review. We systematically searched six databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and the World Health Organization databases, to retrieve the related articles based on the keywords used in our search strategy from 2010 to March 2023. Result Finally, 10 articles were included in this study. All studies were randomized controlled trial (RCTs) and semi-experimental. In all 9 studies, the positive effects of the foot bath were reported. In 9 studies, the effect of foot baths with water above 40 degrees Celsius was reported. The PSQR questionnaire was used in most of the studies. Conclusion The total findings of this study showed that due to the high prevalence of sleep problems in the elderly, foot baths with warm water can be used as an easy, simple, and safe nursing intervention to improve sleep quality. Therefore, it can be used in nursing homes and hospitals. It is also a non-pharmacological and inexpensive nursing intervention that can be implemented by the elderly themselves after training by community health nurses.

Introduction: Population aging is a problem that has affected most countries in the world. Poor-quality sleep is a common complaint among the elderly. Foot baths are a method of heat therapy and are performed as an independent nursing care in different departments. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of foot baths with spa on improving the sleep quality of the elderly. Methods: This research is a systematic review. We systematically searched six databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and the World Health Organization databases, to retrieve the related articles based on the keywords used in our search strategy from 2010 to March 2023. Result: Finally, 10 articles were included in this study. All studies were randomized controlled trial (RCTs) and semi-experimental. In all 9 studies, the positive effects of the foot bath were reported. In 9 studies, the effect of foot baths with water above 40 degrees Celsius was reported. The PSQR questionnaire was used in most of the studies. Conclusion: The total findings of this study showed that due to the high prevalence of sleep problems in the elderly, foot baths with warm water can be used as an easy, simple, and safe nursing intervention to improve sleep quality. Therefore, it can be used in nursing homes and hospitals. It is also a non-pharmacological and inexpensive nursing intervention that can be implemented by the elderly themselves after training by community health nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Footbath therapy is effective for health and wellness. We compared the effects of hot water footbaths (HFB), contrast water footbaths (CFB), and warm water footbaths (WFB) using physiological parameters, including blood pressure, calf volume, flexibility, and meridian energy for six weeks. Significant differences in diastolic blood pressure and calf volume were observed from the third to fifth week, and CFB showed the best effect. CFB and WFB demonstrated improvements in meridian energy, while HFB had no effect. These findings highlighted the effectiveness of CFB in managing stress and promoting health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Stroke is one of the most important neurological diseases in the world. Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders associated with stroke that can disrupt the daily functioning of patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of foot baths on physiological parameters and anxiety in patients with stroke. Methods: The present study was a single-blind clinical trial that was performed on 60 patients with stroke admitted to Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj. The available method was used for sampling and the samples were randomly divided into two groups of test and control (30 people in each group). For the patients of the experimental group, between 2 and 5 PM., a foot bath was performed for 15 minutes by a researcher colleague. For patients in both the experimental and control groups, blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, SpO2, and anxiety in the supine position were measured before and half an hour after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 19 by the independent and paired t-tests at a significance level of P0.05). Discussion: Given the importance of the role of nurses in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke, complementary medicine methods, such as foot baths can be considered safe, inexpensive, and uncomplicated methods in patients with stroke to reduce anxiety and improve physiological parameters. Coresponding author: Fazel Dehvan, E-mail: F.dehvan@yahoo.com You can also search for this author in: PubMed, Google Scholar

Objective To investigate the effect of Yao medicine foot bath therapy combined with mindfulness meditation on rehabilitation and sleep quality in chronic hepatitis B patients with liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome. Methods A total of 86 patients were enrolled in this study, all of which were treated in the hospital from January 2022 to December 2022. The patients were divided into two groups according to the different treatment methods. The control group (n=43) was treated with routine treatment, and the observation group (n=43) was treated with foot bath therapy combined with mindfulness therapy on the basis of routine treatment. The Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) score, Pittsburgh Sleep quality Index (PSQI) score and total effective rate were compared between two groups. Results The score of SAS was decreased in both two groups after treatment, and SAS score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group(P＜0. 01). The score of PSQI was decreased in both two groups after treatment, and PSQI score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group(P＜0. 01). The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (97. 67% vs. 86. 05, P＜0. 05). Conclusion Yao medicine foot bath therapy combined with mindfulness meditation is potentially effective to improve the rehabilitation and sleep quality in chronic hepatitis B patients with liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome. (目的 探讨瑶药足浴疗法联合正念冥想改善慢性乙型病毒性肝炎肝郁脾虚型患者睡眠质量及促进康复的效果。方法 选取2022年1月—12月医院收治的慢性乙型病毒性肝炎肝郁脾虚型患者86例。根据治疗方式的不同对患者进行分组, 对照组(n=43)实施常规治疗, 观察组(n=43)在对照组基础上增加足浴疗法联合正念冥想治疗。采用焦虑自评量表(SAS)评估患者焦虑症状改善情况, 采用匹兹堡睡眠质量指数量表(PSQI)评估患者睡眠质量, 评价两组干预效果。结果 治疗后, 两组SAS评分均较治疗前下降, 且观察组SAS评分低于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 01)。治疗后, 两组PSQI评分均较治疗前下降, 且观察组PSQI评分低于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 01)。观察组治疗总有效率97. 67%(42/43), 高于对照组的86. 05%(37/43), 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。结论 瑶药足浴疗法联合正念冥想能有效改善慢性乙型病毒性肝炎肝郁脾虚型患者焦虑症状以及睡眠质量。)

Objectives: Stroke is one of the most important neurological diseases in the world. Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders associated with stroke that can disrupt the daily functioning of patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of foot baths on physiological parameters and anxiety in patients with stroke. Methods: The present study was a single-blind clinical trial that was performed on 60 patients with stroke admitted to Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj. The available method was used for sampling and the samples were randomly divided into two groups of test and control (30 people in each group). For the patients of the experimental group, between 2 and 5 PM., a foot bath was performed for 15 minutes by a researcher colleague. For patients in both the experimental and control groups, blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, SpO2, and anxiety in the supine position were measured before and half an hour after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 19 by the independent and paired t-tests at a significance level of P<0.05. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 60.98±9.53 years. After the intervention in the experimental group, the mean scores of systolic (159.73 vs. 149.87) and diastolic (90.87 vs. 89.03) blood pressures, heart rate (86.47 vs. 85.37), and anxiety (51.8 vs. 48.4) significantly reduced and the amount of SpO2 (96.2 vs. 97.67) significantly increased (P<0.05). Based on the independent t-test, no statistically significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups in terms of physiological parameters and anxiety (P>0.05). Discussion: Given the importance of the role of nurses in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke, complementary medicine methods, such as foot baths can be considered safe, inexpensive, and uncomplicated methods in patients with stroke to reduce anxiety and improve physiological parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aim. Edema and pain may occur in the lower extremities due to the long-term standing work of nursing students and the stress they experience. In this study, the aim was to determine the effect of foot baths applied after clinical practice on foot pain and leg edema in nursing students. Material and methods. This randomized controlled study was carried out with second year nursing students. The intervention group received a foot bath (including immersion in water and massage). No intervention was performed on the control group. The data was collected using a survey form, edema follow-up form, visual analog scale, and foot bath equipment. Results. Edema levels in the right tibia decreased statistically on the 1st and 2nd days after the foot bath compared to the values measured after nurses performed clinical practice, while the edema level in the left tibia decreased significantly in the first and fourth weeks (p<0.05). The right and left foot pain scores in the intervention group increased in the evening of the day after the clinical practice compared to before clinical practice, and pain scores decreased statistically significantly after foot bath (p<0.001). The foot pain scores expressed by the students in the first week increased continuously (p<0.001). Conclusion. The study showed that a foot bath performed after clinical practice were effective for easing foot pain and leg edema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Footbath therapy is effective for health and wellness. We compared the effects of hot water footbaths (HFB), contrast water footbaths (CFB), and warm water footbaths (WFB) using physiological parameters, including blood pressure, calf volume, flexibility, and meridian energy for six weeks. Significant differences in diastolic blood pressure and calf volume were observed from the third to fifth week, and CFB showed the best effect. CFB and WFB demonstrated improvements in meridian energy, while HFB had no effect. These findings highlighted the effectiveness of CFB in managing stress and promoting health and well-being.

Background: Foot baths are used in complementary and alternative therapy to improve the duration and quality of sleep and reduce tension, anxiety, fatigue, and confusion. They are also known to improve the frequency of labor contractions and to increase their duration in women; thus, they are commonly used by midwives in clinical settings in Japan. However, the physical and mental effects of foot baths during labor are unknown. Objective: This study aims to assess the physical and mental effects of foot baths based on biomarker levels and self-administered questionnaires. Methods: A single-arm pre-post test trial design is being used in this study, and the study is being conducted at a general hospital in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The target study population is women in the first stage of labor, the phase when the uterus starts to contract and when the cervix dilates to 10 cm, or those undergoing labor induction. Participants who meet the eligibility criteria are recruited, and written informed consent is obtained from them. They are asked to answer the questionnaire and to collect 1.5 mL of saliva in 2 microtubes each, before and after the intervention. The intervention is foot baths for 15-20 minutes using a foot bath device. Data on delivery, such as gestational age, gravidity, parity, diagnosis following the last vaginal examination, and presence or absence of membrane rupture, are retrieved from the medical records. The primary outcomes are salivary cortisol levels before and after the foot baths. The secondary outcomes are levels of relaxation and comfort, labor pain, body warmth, vital signs, and interval of labor pain before and after the foot baths, which are assessed using a numerical rating scale. A paired t test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test will be performed to compare the data for salivary cortisol levels and numerical rating scale scores. Results: Data collection started on April 1, 2022. As of October 2022, we had enrolled 10 participants. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, it is difficult for medical personnel to freely interact with women in labor until the results of the COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test are available in the research facility, complicating the recruitment process. Conclusions: This is the first prospective study to assess the effects of foot baths using a biomarker during the first stage of labor. The findings on the effects of foot baths on women in labor will provide novel insights that may improve the outcomes of delivery. A randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of foot baths to obtain robust evidence should be conducted in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Foot baths are used in complementary and alternative therapy to improve the duration and quality of sleep and reduce tension, anxiety, fatigue, and confusion. They are also known to improve the frequency of labor contractions and to increase their duration in women; thus, they are commonly used by midwives in clinical settings in Japan. However, the physical and mental effects of foot baths during labor are unknown., Objective: This study aims to assess the physical and mental effects of foot baths based on biomarker levels and self-administered questionnaires., Methods: A single-arm pre-post test trial design is being used in this study, and the study is being conducted at a general hospital in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The target study population is women in the first stage of labor, the phase when the uterus starts to contract and when the cervix dilates to 10 cm, or those undergoing labor induction. Participants who meet the eligibility criteria are recruited, and written informed consent is obtained from them. They are asked to answer the questionnaire and to collect 1.5 mL of saliva in 2 microtubes each, before and after the intervention. The intervention is foot baths for 15-20 minutes using a foot bath device. Data on delivery, such as gestational age, gravidity, parity, diagnosis following the last vaginal examination, and presence or absence of membrane rupture, are retrieved from the medical records. The primary outcomes are salivary cortisol levels before and after the foot baths. The secondary outcomes are levels of relaxation and comfort, labor pain, body warmth, vital signs, and interval of labor pain before and after the foot baths, which are assessed using a numerical rating scale. A paired t test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test will be performed to compare the data for salivary cortisol levels and numerical rating scale scores., Results: Data collection started on April 1, 2022. As of October 2022, we had enrolled 10 participants. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, it is difficult for medical personnel to freely interact with women in labor until the results of the COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test are available in the research facility, complicating the recruitment process., Conclusions: This is the first prospective study to assess the effects of foot baths using a biomarker during the first stage of labor. The findings on the effects of foot baths on women in labor will provide novel insights that may improve the outcomes of delivery. A randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of foot baths to obtain robust evidence should be conducted in the future., Trial Registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network-Clinical Trial Registry UMIN000046539; https://tinyurl.com/2wwj7dns., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/39985., (©Naoko Hikita, Ritsuko Iso, Kiyoko Mizuhata, Akemi Isoyama, Ayumi Kobayashi, Rika Muroi. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 18.01.2023.)

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the optimal conditions of warm-water bathing required to improve peripheral circulation. [Participants and Methods] Ten healthy males experienced three warm-water bathing depths (half-body, low-leg, and foot) on different days. Peripheral circulation (earlobe blood flow), tympanic temperature, pulse rate, and blood pressure were measured during each session and compared among the bathing conditions. [Results] In half-body bathing, the relative blood flow of participants increased steeply to a level 2.7-fold higher than the baseline during bathing and rapidly decreased after that. Conversely, the relative blood flow gradually and continuously increased to a level 1.7-fold higher than that at the baseline during low-leg bathing and maintained a similar level after that. The blood flow did not markedly change throughout the experiment in foot bathing. The pulse rate during foot bathing and that during low-leg bathing did not change throughout the observation period, but that of half-body bathing increased considerably. [Conclusion] Rapid changes in pulse rate or blood pressure associated with bathing are considered risky. We suggest that low-leg bathing, rather than the usually adopted half-body bathing, is appropriate for improving peripheral circulation in terms of effectiveness and safety., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose in relation to this work., (2022©by the Society of Physical Therapy Science. Published by IPEC Inc.)