A Study of the Effects of Swedish Massage in a Multisensory Environment on the Health of Women in their 40s and 50s

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the physical and psychological effects of foot massage for middle-aged women in the snoezelen space.Methods: Participants were randomly divided into four groups of 30 persons each: the snoezelen foot massage group (MSE+FM, treatment group), general foot massage group (FM, comparison group I), snoezelen group (MSE, comparison group II), and untreated (CG, control group). The foot massage program was operated at snoezelen space for 30 min once, once a week, and four times for four weeks.Results: Muscle tone was lowest in the treatment group, followed by the comparison group I and comparison II; whereas, the control group appeared to have the highest (<i>F</i>=52.686, <i>p</i><0.001). Psychological stress was lowest in the treatment group, followed by the comparison group I and comparison II, while the control group appeared to have the highest (<i>F</i>=141.428, <i>p</i><0.001). Psychological well-being was highest in the treatment group, followed by the comparison group II, comparison group I, and control group (<i>F</i>=428.022, <i>p</i><0.001). The perceived health status was highest in the treatment group and comparison group I followed by comparison group II, and the control group (<i>F</i>=224.395, <i>p</i><0.001).Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that Swedish foot massage alone are recognized as an excellent alternative therapy; however, it is thought that if the snoezelen space is mediated here, it will have a synergistic effect on physical and psychological improvement.