Sep
5
2023
Agitation in elderly patients has traditionally been managed with medication or physical restraints, a new research suggests that foot massage may be of some help. In a preliminary study, researchers from Griffith University, Brisbane, have shown that a short-course of foot massage reduces agitation and related behavioural problems in people with dementia, and a history of verbal aggression, wandering and repetitive movements.
Their study carried out in 17 men and 5 women, with a diagnosis of dementia and a history of clinically significant agitation, received a 10-minute foot massage each day for 14 days. The short form of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI-SF) and the Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC) were completed at baseline, post-test and at 2-week follow up.
The results showed that the agitation (CMAI-SF) and behavioural (RMBPC) scores were significantly reduced at post-test and remained significantly lower than baseline at follow up. The authors concluded that this study provides preliminary evidence suggesting that limited short-duration foot massage reduces agitation and related behavioural problems in people with dementia, and that these behaviour changes are maintained after the massage ceases.
Reference:
Wendy Moyle, Amy Nicole Burne Johnston, Siobhan Therese O’Dwyer. Exploring the effect of foot massage on agitated behaviours in older people with dementia: A pilot study. Australasian Journal on Ageing.
