Comparing the Effect of Reflexology and Effleurage Massages on Fatigue and Insomnia in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Aims: Patients with Multiple Sclerosis face many problems and complications; fatigue and insomnia are considered the common complications influencing their lives. Complementary therapies such as reflexology and effleurage massage can help reduce fatigue and insomnia in these patients, but no comparison has been made between the two effects on reducing these complications. The present study compared reflexology and effleurage massage on the severity of fatigue and insomnia among Multiple Sclerosis patients. Methods: This experimental study is a clinical trial and conducted on 90 Multiple Sclerosis patients in Ahvaz city in Iran from May 30 to July 30, 2019. The selected patients were assigned into three groups: reflexology massage, effleurage massage, and control (group 30) by blocked randomized sampling). The intervention was performed in the reflexology and effleurage groups twice a week for eight weeks. The control group received only routine medication prescribed by the pertinent physician. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed by SPSS 21 software, using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, independent t-test, pair t-test, and Scheffe post hoc test. Findings: Following the intervention, there was a significant difference between the three groups (p≤0.001), but the reflexology intervention has a greater effect on fatigue severity among the patients than the effleurage massage. The results indicated that the effect of interventions on fatigue severity was the same in both groups of reflexology and effleurage (p=0.069); however, compared to the control group, insomnia severity diminished in reflexology and effleurage massage groups (p≤0.001). Conclusion: Applying reflexology and effleurage massage therapy techniques can be helpful to reduce the severity of fatigue and insomnia in Multiple Sclerosis patients, but reflexology is more effective in reducing insomnia. Accordingly, these techniques are suggested as effective, safe, and inexpensive nursing interventions.