European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ICE MASSAGE AND COLD COMPRESS IN PRIMARY HYPERTENSION – A RANDOMIZED TRAIL

*Prashanth Shetty (BNYS, MSc, PhD), Sadhana Kotapati (BNYS), Shashikiran H. C. (BNYS, MD) and Sujatha K. J. (BNYS, MSc)

ABSTRACT

Background: Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for both coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular accidents which can lead to cardiac hypertrophy and potentially heart failure. Hydrotherapy, formerly called hydropathy and also called water cure is a part of alternative medicine, in particular of naturopathy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, that involves treating of various diseases using water. In this study we see the comparative effect of ice massage and cold compress in Primary hypertensive individuals. Methods: A total of 60 subjects were required for the study, with a mean age group of 30 to 60 years. Subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in research. Informed consent form was administered in English. 30 subjects were giving ice massage and the remaining 30 subjects were given cold compress. Assessments were made before and after the intervention. Results: Although results of individual group have shown some changes, there is no significance in the form of (p<0.05) when compared in between cold compress and ice massage. Group 1 (cold compress) showed significant increase in NN50 and PNN50 and decrease in HR(p<0.05), Group 2 (ice massage) showed significant increase in NN50 and decrease in HR(p<0.05). Conclusion: Both cold compress and ice massage have shown parasympathetic dominance and can be used in the treatment of hypertensive individuals.

Keywords: Primary Hypertension, Ice Massage, Cold Compress.