NCT06120101

Reflexology on Seizure Frequency, Fatigue, Stress and Sleep Quality in Epilepsy Patients

Examining the Effect of Foot Reflexology Massage on Seizure Frequency, Fatigue, Stress and Sleep Quality in Epilepsy Patients: Randomized Control Experimental Research

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 70 (actual)
• Sponsor: Ataturk University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Epilepsy is among the diseases that cause loss of neurological abilities regardless of any trauma. Reflexology is one of the complementary therapies based on activating the body's self-healing power through special hand techniques applied to the feet. It is known that there are positive changes in seizure frequency, fatigue, stress and sleep quality in epilepsy patients after reflexology. This study will be conducted to determine the effect of reflexology on seizure frequency, fatigue, stress and sleep quality in epilepsy patients.

Detailed description

Individual interviews were conducted with epilepsy patients who applied to the neurology clinic of a university hospital where the research was conducted, and patients who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study will be randomly included in the experiment. Patients arriving on the first day of the week will be placed in the experimental group. In the following days, groups will be formed as one day experiment and one day control (Monday-experiment, Tuesday-control, Wednesday-experiment, Thursday-control, Friday-experiment). Data collection tools will be applied to the experimental and control group patients at the beginning and end of the study. Only reflexology massage will be applied to the experimental group, and no application will be applied to the control group. Data will be collected simultaneously with the control and experimental groups.

Conditions

• Reflexology
• Epilepsy
• Fatigue
• Stress

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Reflexology Massage	The researcher washed his hands with an antibacterial soap before cleaning the patient's feet. The feet were cleaned according to the patient's preference; To wash feet with water or use disposable wet cloth. The patients were placed in a supine position on the bed in the room and their joint points were supported. The researcher stood at the end of the patient's bed during treatment. Unscented sesame oil at room temperature was used to provide lubrication during reflexology. The application started with the patient's right foot. The foot was first relaxed by applying effleurage, shaking, rotation and stretching methods. During the application, the researcher used the fingers of the other hand while supporting the patient's foot with one hand, and the thumb and caterpillar technique was mostly used. In other applications, the index finger and other fingers were used. The training ended by applying solar plexus pressure to both feet.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-08-15
• Primary completion: 2025-11-15
• Completion: 2025-12-15
• First posted: 2023-11-07
• Last updated: 2026-04-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)