Assessment of Leg Massage on Hemodynamic Parameters of Intensive Care Patients: A Parallel Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: We aimed to determine the effectiveness of leg massage by a nurse and patients' families on hemodynamic parameters in patients admitted to intensive care units. Methods: This parallel single-blinded randomized clinical trial involved 75 patients admitted to the intensive care units at Shahid Bahonar Hospital in Kerman, Iran. Patients were assigned to 3 groups by the minimization method (massage by a nurse, massage by the patient's family, and the control group). Swedish massage was used on both legs (each leg for 5 minutes) once a day for 6 days, and the hemodynamic parameters of patients were measured before intervention, at the end of intervention, and 1 week later. Results: The results showed that mean arterial pressure decreased in all 3 groups 1 week after intervention, which was not statistically significant. Mean heart rate also decreased in all 3 groups 1 week after intervention, which was statistically significant except for massage by family. Mean arterial oxygen saturation significantly decreased in all 3 groups 1 week after intervention but remained normal. The 3 hemodynamic parameters did not differ significantly among the 3 groups. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the use of massage has no effect on hemodynamic parameters.