CompletedNot Applicable

Symptom Control and Physiological Effects of Reflexology Applied After Stroke

Turkey (Türkiye)70 participantsStarted 2024-10-15

Plain-language summary

This study is designed as a randomized controlled intervention with a pre-test-post-test design to evaluate the effect of reflexology on pain, physiological parameters, and sleep quality in stroke patients. The study will be conducted at the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Unit of Van Training and Research Hospital between October 2024 and June 2025. Using a simple randomization method, patients will be assigned to either the control group or the reflexology intervention group, with an anticipated sample size of 35 patients per group. Data will be collected using the Personal Information Form, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Richards-Campbell Sleep Scale (RCSS), and a physiological parameters recording form. Patients in the intervention group will receive reflexology massage twice a week for six weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. Each session will last 30 minutes (15 minutes per foot), in addition to routine nursing care. Physiological parameters will be recorded before and after each reflexology session. The control group will receive routine nursing care only, and their physiological parameters will be monitored twice weekly using the same schedule. All scales and forms will be administered again at the end of the 6-week period. The study aims to determine whether reflexology influences pain levels, physiological parameters, and sleep quality in stroke patients. Findings from this research may contribute to the evidence base regarding complementary interventions in post-stroke nursing care; however, no study results are yet available in this protocol record.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: Individuals over the age of 18, * No diagnosis of any psychiatric illness or medication use, * Hemiplegic stroke patients, * Volunteering to participate in the study, * According to the patient introduction form; patients describing hemiplegic shoulder pain and insomnia symptoms, * No history of neurological or psychiatric disorders other than stroke, * No irritation or ulceration in the skin area where reflexology will be performed, * No history of deep vein thrombosis, * Able to speak and understand Turkish and able to read and write, * Patients who voluntarily agree to participate in the study will be included. Exclusion Criteria: Refusal to participate in the study, * Tetraplegic and paraplegic patients, * Patients with stroke due to malignant brain damage undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy * Those with mental and psychiatric disorders, * Those who have received professional massage therapy within the past month, * Those with contraindications for foot massage and reflexology: patients with generalized edema, pacemakers, history of heart attack, active gout, history of deep vein thrombosis, history of gallbladder and kidney stones, acute infection, fever, fractures, or wounds will not be included in the study.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Pain Intensity

Timeframe: Baseline and at the end of week 6.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07295626

SponsorHakkari Universitesi

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-10-15

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