The Effects of Aroma Foot Massage on Blood Pressure and Anxiety in Japanese Community-Dwelling Men and Women: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aroma foot massage on blood pressure, anxiety, and health-related quality of life (QOL) in Japanese community-dwelling men and women using a crossover randomized controlled trial.MethodsFifty-seven eligible participants (5 men and 52 women) aged 27 to 72 were randomly divided into 2 intervention groups (group A: n = 29; group B: n = 28) to participate in aroma foot massages 12 times during the 4-week intervention period. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively), heart rate, state anxiety, and health-related QOL were measured at the baseline, 4-week follow-up, and 8-week follow-up. The effects of the aroma foot massage intervention on these factors and the proportion of participants with anxiety were analyzed using a linear mixed-effect model for a crossover design adjusted for participant and period effects. Furthermore, the relationship between the changes in SBP and state anxiety among participants with relieved anxiety was assessed using a linear regression model.ResultsAroma foot massage significantly decreased the mean SBP (p = 0.02), DBP (p = 0.006), and state anxiety (p = 0.003) as well as the proportion of participants with anxiety (p = 0.003). Although it was not statistically significant (p = 0.088), aroma foot massage also increased the score of mental health-related QOL. The change in SBP had a significant and positive correlation with the change in state anxiety (p = 0.01) among participants with relieved anxiety.ConclusionThe self-administered aroma foot massage intervention significantly decreased the mean SBP and DBP as well as the state anxiety score, and tended to increase the mental health-related QOL scores. The results suggest that aroma foot massage may be an easy and effective way to improve mental health and blood pressure.Trial RegistrationUniversity Hospital Medical Information Network 000014260研究目的 本研究旨在通过交叉设计随机对照试验（crossover randomized controlled trial），探究芳香足部按摩对日本社区居住的27至72岁男女的血压、焦虑状况与健康相关生活质量（health-related quality of life, QOL）的影响。 研究方法 本研究纳入57名符合入组标准的参与者（其中男性5名、女性52名），年龄介于27至72岁之间，被随机分为2个干预组（A组：n=29；B组：n=28），在4周干预期内完成共计12次芳香足部按摩。分别于基线、4周随访及8周随访时，测量参与者的收缩压（systolic blood pressure, SBP）、舒张压（diastolic blood pressure, DBP）、心率、状态焦虑评分及健康相关生活质量。采用针对交叉设计的线性混合效应模型（linear mixed-effect model），校正参与者个体与周期效应，分析芳香足部按摩干预对上述指标及焦虑参与者占比的影响；此外，针对焦虑症状缓解的参与者，采用线性回归模型（linear regression model）评估其收缩压变化与状态焦虑变化之间的关联。 研究结果 芳香足部按摩可显著降低受试者的平均收缩压（p=0.02）、舒张压（p=0.006）与状态焦虑评分（p=0.003），同时降低焦虑参与者的占比（p=0.003）。尽管未达到统计学显著性水平（p=0.088），但芳香足部按摩亦可提升心理健康相关生活质量评分。在焦虑症状缓解的参与者中，收缩压的变化与状态焦虑的变化呈显著正相关（p=0.01）。 研究结论 自行操作的芳香足部按摩干预可显著降低受试者的平均收缩压、舒张压与状态焦虑评分，并倾向于提升心理健康相关生活质量评分。研究结果表明，芳香足部按摩或许是一种简便且有效的改善心理健康与血压水平的干预方式。 试验注册 大学医院医疗信息网络（University Hospital Medical Information Network）000014260