Key result
Foot massage plus leg elevation reduces lower extremity edema depth in heart failure.
Why the study?
Congestive heart failure leads to fluid retention and lower extremity edema, motivating this description of applying foot massage therapy and 30° leg elevation to reduce edema in hospitalized CHF patients.
Does combined foot massage therapy and 30° leg elevation reduce lower extremity edema in patients with congestive heart failure and hypervolemia?
Case Report (n=2)
Open-label
No
Does combined foot massage therapy and 30° leg elevation reduce lower extremity edema in patients with congestive heart failure and hypervolemia?
In a two-patient descriptive case study, three consecutive days of combined 30° leg elevation and foot massage therapy reduced peripheral pitting edema grade, depth, tissue recovery time, and ankle circumference in patients with congestive heart failure.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Should not yet change HF edema practice; leaves open benefit confirmation in randomized trials.
Introduction: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a clinical syndrome resulting from the heart's inability to pump blood effectively, leading to fluid retention characterized by edema in the lower extremities. This case study aims to describe the application of foot massage therapy and 30° leg elevation to reduce edema in CHF patients in the ICCU Room of Dr. M. Yunus Regional General Hospital, Bengkulu Province in 2026. Methods: This study used a descriptive case study design in two CHF patients who were purposively selected based on inclusion criteria. The intervention was given for three consecutive days in the form of 30° leg elevation for 10 minutes followed by foot massage therapy. Evaluation was carried out by measuring the depth of edema, tissue recovery time, ankle circumference, and degree of edema before and after the intervention. Data analysis was carried out descriptively by comparing the results before and after the intervention in each participant. Results: In the first participant, the degree of edema decreased from grade III to grade I, while in the second participant, it decreased from grade III to grade II. The depth of edema decreased from 4.0 to 2.5 mm and from 5.0 to 3.65 mm. Tissue recovery time decreased from 15 to 10 seconds and from 16 to 11 seconds, respectively, accompanied by a decrease in ankle circumference in both participants. Conclusions: Combined foot massage therapy with 30° leg elevation can help reduce edema in CHF patients and has the potential to become a non-pharmacological nursing intervention in edema management.
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Putri et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Congestive heart failure (CHF) with lower extremity edema (n=2). Foot massage therapy and 30° leg elevation was evaluated on Reduction in lower extremity pitting edema (degree, depth in mm, tissue recovery time in seconds, and ankle circumference). Combined foot massage therapy and 30° leg elevation for 3 days reduced lower extremity edema depth from 4.0 to 2.5 mm and 5.0 to 3.65 mm in two patients with congestive heart failure.
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