Fall Prevention Support for Elderly Persons at Home Needing Preventive Nursing Care—Effect of Foot Massage on Foot Function—

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of foot massage to improve the skin sensation of the sole and the toe force necessary for standing balance for elderly persons living at home who need preventive nursing care.

Method: Foot massages were given twice per week for two months to 11 elderly persons at a day service. The skin sensation of the sole of the foot was measured using monofilament, and the toe force required for standing balance was measured using the grip force and time able to stand on one leg with eyes open, and a back-and-forth comparative analysis was performed.

Results: At the end of the two-month period, the sensation of the skin on the sole of the foot improved by more than 91% in all subjects (p < 0.05), and there was improvement in the toe force of all subjects (p < 0.05). Time standing on one leg with eyes open improved by 82% for all subjects as well (p < 0.05). Massage improved the sensory input of the skin, and the associated foot movement improved the strength of the toe muscles, while the length of standing time on one foot with eyes open increased, all of which help to maintain standing balance.

Conclusion: Foot massage may be effective as fall prevention support for elderly people in need of care prevention.