Abstract
BACKGROUND: Complementary medicine interventions are now successfully used to reduce
stress as well as to stabilize hemodynamic indices within different procedures. The present
study aimed to examine the effect of massage therapy and reflexotherapy on reducing stress in
patients before coronary angiography.
METHODS: In this open-label clinical trial, 75 consecutive patients who were candidate for
coronary angiography were randomly assigned to receive reflexotherapy (n = 25), or massage
therapy (n = 25), or routine care (n = 25) before angiography. The Spielberger State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory was used to determine the stress level of patients before and after
interventions and vital signs were also measured.
RESULTS: Improvement in diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate was shown
in the reflexotherapy group, and similar effects were observed following other interventions
including massage therapy and routine resting program. In subjects who received
reflexotherapy the level of stress decreased slightly compared with the other two groups.
However, following interventions the level of stress in reflexotherapy group was shown to be
lower than other study groups.
CONCLUSION: Reflexotherapy before coronary angiography can help to stabilize vital sign as
well as reduce the level of stress. The effect of massage therapy was limited to reducing stress
