Effect of Foot Reflexology Massage on Sleep Quality using Aromatic Oils— A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: To examine the impact of reflexology foot massage using aromatic oils on sleep quality in individuals with poor sleep quality.

Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College and Hospital.

Participants: Forty adults (20 intervention, 20 control) aged 30–60 years with poor sleep quality were recruited. Inclu-sion criteria included Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores >5 indicating poor sleep quality.

Interventions: The intervention group received daily 20-min foot reflexology massage using aromatic oils for 21 consecutive days. The control group participants remained seated in a quiet room for 20 min daily, focusing on natural breathing, for 21 consecutive days.

Main outcome measures: Sleep quality was assessed using the PSQI at baseline and post-intervention (day 22).

Results: Forty participants completed the study (95% female, n = 38) with a mean age of 50.30 ± 8.15 years. The intervention group showed significant improvement in PSQI scores from baseline mean 14.25 ± 2.8 to 10.30 ± 1.4 post-intervention (p < 0.001), while the control group demonstrated minimal change from baseline mean 14.10 ± 2.8 to 14.15 ± 2.6 post-intervention (p = 0.34).

Conclusions: Reflexology foot massage using aromatic oils significantly improved sleep quality in individuals with poor sleep quality. This intervention shows potential as a safe, cost-effective complementary therapy for sleep quality enhancement.