Comparison of the Effect of Local Cold Therapy and Hand and Foot Massage on Blood Pressure in Post-Operative Patients

Background: Postoperative blood pressure management has an important role in controlling postoperative complications. Local cold therapy and massage, in addition to pharmacotherapy is useful as a safe method to manage blood pressure.Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Local cold therapy versus hand and foot massage on blood pressure of the patients undergoing surgery.Methods: This Semi-experimental study with three-group, before- after design was conducted on ۹۰ patients undergoing surgery in ۲۰۱۹ at Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Patients entered the study using convenience-sampling method and randomly allocated to intervention (local cold therapy and massage) and control groups. Local cold therapy and massage performed three times a day for ۲۰ minutes for ۴۸ hours. After the intervention, blood pressure changes re-measured by the researcher.Results: The mean differences of systolic blood pressure before and after the intervention in the massage (p=۰.۰۰۱) and local cold therapy (p=۰.۰۰۲) groups was significant, also mean differences of diastolic blood pressure before and after the intervention in the massage (P<۰.۰۰۱) and local cold therapy (P=۰.۰۳۶) groups was significant. The ANOVA test showed that the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was not significant for different groups before (P=۰.۲۸) and after (P=۰.۰۵۹) the intervention.  Conclusion: In order to use Local cold therapy and hand and foot massage effectively along with routine care, teaching its use to nurses as well as patients' companions can be useful.