Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of foot massages on physiological and psychological indicators, which reflect stress condition in healthy women volunteers. The subjects were 12 healthy adult women (23-44 years of age) who received both 20 minute foot massages and 20 minutes of quiet bed rest. Plasma catecholamines, plasma serotonin, blood pressure, pulse, VAS, and POMS were measured. The results showed that plasma noradrenaline, blood pressure, and pulse decreased with foot massages, and plasma serotonin increased. In simultaneously measured VAS and POMS, sensations of comfort, relaxation, and energy increased, and tension-anxiety, depression-mood dips, fatigue, and confusion decreased. This demonstrated that foot massages affect physiological and psychological indicators of stress, and suggests that they are an effective means to improve physiological and psychological stress responses of the level that are held by healthy adult women.
