The effects of foot and facial massage on sleep induction, blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rate: Crossover pilot study

SummaryThe study aimed to compare the effects of facial massage with that of foot massage on sleep induction and vital signs of healthy adults and to test a methodology that could be used by a lone researcher in such a study. A randomised within-group crossover pilot study of six healthy female volunteers was conducted. The interventions were a 20 min foot and a 20 min facial massage using peach-kernel base oil Prunus persica. A drop in systolic blood pressure of 8.5 mmHg was recorded immediately after facial massage compared to that of 1 mmHg recorded after foot massage. Both treatments were equally effective in reducing subjective levels of alertness during the interventions, with face massage marginally better at producing subjective sleepiness. A lone researcher using these methods would be able objectively to measure vital signs before and after interventions, but not during; and would be able subjectively to measure sleep induction in non-sleep-laboratory contexts.