Relief of labor pain by ice massage of the hand

Background: Labor pain is the worst pain experience during women's life. The management of
labor pain is amongst the leading goals of maternity care. Unrelieved labor pain may adversely
affect both mother and the neonate. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Hoku point
ice massage on pain intensity in primiparous women during labor.
Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 primiparous
women who were expected to have normal childbirth in Hajar Hospital of Shahrekord. All
participants were randomly assigned in two groups (n = 30): ice massage (treatment) and sand bag
group (control). The severity of the basal pain was measured at the beginning of active phase
(4 cm cervical dilation) based on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Then, after two groups received
intervention, the severity of the labor pain in 4, 6, 8 and 10 cm cervical dilation was measured. In
the case group, the crushed ice twisted in a terry bag was rocked on the web of skin between thumb
and forefinger. The massage was carried out in Hoku point throughout three contractions. The sand
bag tactile massage in Hoku point was served in the control group. The data were analyzed using
SPSS software and descriptive analysis using Mann- Whitney, x2, paired and independent t tests and
P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: After completion of intervention, the pain intensity in the treatment group was
significantly less than the control group P<0.001). Also, mean duration of active phase of labor in
treatment group was significantly less than the control group (P<0.05). In the treatment group, the
difference between the mean of the pain pre and post intervention was significant just in 4, 6 and 8
cervical dilation (P<0.001).
Conclusions: Regarding the ice massage as a cost-effective and noninvasive nursing
intervention and considering high satisfaction of patients, we recommend this safe and easy-to-use
technique for alleviation of the labor pain.