The Effect of Post-Coronary Angiography Foot Massage on Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Study

This research was conducted to assess the impact of foot massage on back pain following transfemoral angiography. This randomized controlled study was carried out with 41 patients (20 in the intervention group and 21 in the control group) who underwent transfemoral angiography in the Angiography Unit between 15 May- 30 June 2023. Data were collected using a questionnaire and a visual analog scale. In the intervention group, a 20-minute foot massage, with 10 minutes for each foot, was administered two hours after the procedure. The control group received standard pharmacological treatment. Pain assessments for all participants were conducted immediately after angiography (1st measurement), at 30 minutes (2nd measurement), at the second hour (3rd measurement), at the fourth hour (4th measurement), and at the sixth hour (5th measurement). The control group, back pain intensity at the 3rd, 4th, and 5th measurements was significantly higher than at the 1st measurement (immediately after angiography) (p < 0.001). In the intervention group, pain intensity at all measurements (2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th measurements) was significantly higher than at the 1st measurement (p < 0.001). Between-group comparisons indicated that, except for the 1st measurement (p = 1.00), back pain intensity scores at the 4th and 5th measurements in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.001). Foot massage administered for 20 minutes, which is easy, without side effects, and requires no additional materials, can reduce back pain in patients following transfemoral angiography.