Effect of Warm Foot Bath on Heart Rate Variability in Hypertension

Aims: Warm foot bath is a simple, cost-effective, efficient treatment modality used in Naturopathy in the management of hypertension, a preventable and treatable global public health issue. This study was done to assess the effect of warm foot bath on heart rate variability and blood pressure and thereby to substantiate the clinical understanding of its effect in hypertensive individuals.

Methodology: From the inpatient department of Shri Dharmasthala Yoga and Nature cure hospital Shantivana, hundred subjects diagnosed with hypertension belonging to the age group of 30 to 60 years were recruited for the study and warm foot bath was given to all the patients. Subjects were assessed for Blood Pressure (BP) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) before and after the intervention of 15 minutes.

Results: The data analysis shows a significant reduction in SBP (p<0.001) and DBP (P<0.001). Result showed there is significant reduction seen in MEAN RR, RMSSD, NN50, PN50, VLF and significant increase in LF, HR, LF/HF ratio p value of (p<0.001). There is no significant change in MEAN HF (p>0.005).

Conclusion: The result of the study shows that warm foot bath reduces the sympathetic tone and shifts the Sympatho-vagal balance in favour of parasympathetic dominance and hence, it can be concluded that warm foot bath can be effectively used in the management of hypertension.

Trial Registration: Clinical Trial Registry - India (CTRI), CTRI Reg. No.- CTRI/2020/01/022640.