EFFECTIVENESS OF SWEDISH MASSAGE AND ACUPRESSURE INTERVENTION IN HYPERTENSION GRADE I PATIENTS

Abstract

Background : Hypertension is known as "The Silent Killer" because it can cause death without any noticeable symptoms. The incidence of hypertension is the second highest in Puskesmas (Public Health Center) Srondol, Semarang City, Central Java, with the majority of cases occurring in women. Several studies have suggested that Swedish massage and acupressure can be used as complementary therapies in the treatment of hypertension. Therefore, a combined intervention of Swedish massage and acupressure was conducted to manage hypertension grade I patients.  Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Swedish massage and acupressure intervention on blood pressure in hypertension grade I patients.  Method : This study was a true experiment with a randomized pre-test and post-test control group design, involving 34 respondents selected through simple random sampling and divided into two groups. The intervention group received Swedish massage and acupressure for 6 sessions of 31 minutes each, over a period of 3 weeks, while the control group received standard pharmacological therapy. The data were analyzed using paired t-tests and independent t-tests.  Result : The results showed that the intervention group, which received swedish massage and acupressure significantly reduced systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure compared to the control group receiving standard pharmacological therapy, with a decrease from 146.47 mmHg to 120.00 mmHg with a mean delta value of 26.47±9.963, while the control group had a mean delta value of 13.53±15.387 (p=0.007) and reduction in diastolic blood pressure, with a decrease from 85.29 mmHg to 77.65 mmHg with a mean delta value of 7.65±7.524, while the control group had a mean delta value of 5.88±12.277 (p=0.617), and with a decrease in blood pressure in the normal category.  Conclusion : The combined intervention of Swedish massage and acupressure is effective in reducing systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in hypertension grade I patients.