PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aroma foot reflexology massage on mood states specifically depression and brain waves of elderly women with osteoarthritis.
METHODS
The study was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The participants were 62 elderly women with osteoarthritis. The instruments were the Korean-Profile of Mood States-Brief for mood states and 8-channel EEG (Electroencephalogram) system for brain waves. Data were collected from March to May, 2012. Twenty-six participants were assigned to the treatment group and twenty-six to the comparison group. The data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 17.0 version program, and included descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANCOVA. The intervention was conducted three times a week for two weeks.
RESULTS
There were significantly improvement in reported depression. s. Brain waves (EEG) increased significantly in F3, T3 of alpha wave and in F4, T3, and P4 of beta wave between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
Aroma foot reflexology massage can be utilized as an effective intervention to decrease depression of mood states, increase of alpha, and beta brain wave on woman elderly with osteoarthritis.