Effect of Foot Reflexology on Postpartum Afterpains

NCT ID: NCT06951750

Last Updated: 2025-04-30

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

36 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-04-30

Study Completion Date

2025-07-15

Brief Summary

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This study will be conducted to determine the effect of foot reflexology on afterpains after normal labor.

Detailed Description

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Afterpains are among the most prevalent complaints after natural vaginal delivery. Non-pharmacological treatment modalities to relieve afterpains are an important care priority as they can lead to maternal and neonatal complications including anxiety, sleep disturbances, emotional disorders, depression, inability to care for the baby and continue breastfeeding, delays in early breastfeeding, reduced maternal ability to perform daily chores.

It was reported that pain in the early hours postpartum is one of the most important factors contributing to chronic postpartum pain and depression. Furthermore, pain and stress increase adrenaline release and decrease oxytocin release, thus leading to the cessation of the oxytocin reflex and disrupting breast milk production in addition to causing discomfort for the mother.

Since afterpains is a common problem that affects the physical and mental well-being of mothers, it requires the attention of healthcare providers. There is only one study that investigated the effect of reflexology on the pain level of afterpains after normal vaginal delivery. Moreover, no study investigated the effect of reflexology on either the behavioral response toward pain or the pressure pain threshold. Therefore, this study will be conducted to provide physiotherapists with updated scientific Knowledge concerning the effect of foot reflexology on afterpains after normal labor. This Study may expand the role of physiotherapy in women's health.

Conditions

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Pain, Labor

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Reflexology group

The participants will receive reflexology on foot and on specific uterine points in the first hour post-partum and will be repeated in the second hour post-partum

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Reflexology

Intervention Type OTHER

The participants will receive two minutes of specific reflexology on each point of the uterus, pituitary, and solar plexus in the form of rotational pressures. This will be performed in the first hour post-partum and will be repeated in the second hour post-partum

general foot massage

Intervention Type OTHER

The participants will receive a general massage on each foot for four minutes. This will be performed in the first hour post-partum and will be repeated in the second hour post-partum

Placebo reflexology

The participants will receive reflexology on foot and on heel (placebo points) in the first hour post-partum and will be repeated in the second hour post-partum

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

placebo reflexology

Intervention Type OTHER

The participants will receive rotational pressures on a neutral point on the lateral side of the heel (placebo point) for six minutes. This will be performed in the first hour post-partum and will be repeated in the second hour post-partum

general foot massage

Intervention Type OTHER

The participants will receive a general massage on each foot for four minutes. This will be performed in the first hour post-partum and will be repeated in the second hour post-partum

Interventions

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Reflexology

The participants will receive two minutes of specific reflexology on each point of the uterus, pituitary, and solar plexus in the form of rotational pressures. This will be performed in the first hour post-partum and will be repeated in the second hour post-partum

Intervention Type OTHER

placebo reflexology

The participants will receive rotational pressures on a neutral point on the lateral side of the heel (placebo point) for six minutes. This will be performed in the first hour post-partum and will be repeated in the second hour post-partum

Intervention Type OTHER

general foot massage

The participants will receive a general massage on each foot for four minutes. This will be performed in the first hour post-partum and will be repeated in the second hour post-partum

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* They will be multipara (2-3).
* They will be normal vaginal labor

Exclusion Criteria

* High-risk pregnancy.
* Post-partum hemorrhage.
* Neonatal birth weight over 4 kg.
* Over distension of the uterus.
* Cesarean section.
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

35 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Cairo University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Hala Ismail Mahmoud

Principal investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Hazem El-Ashmawy, Professor

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Cairo University

Doaa Osman, As professor

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Cairo University

Locations

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Hala Ismail Mahmoud

Cairo, , Egypt

Site Status

Countries

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Egypt

Central Contacts

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Hala I Mahmoud, Master

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 01116341936

Email: [email protected]

Mai Ali, PHD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 01126533836

Email: [email protected]

Other Identifiers

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P.T.REC/012/005673

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id