Application of progressive muscle relaxation therapy and red ginger foot soaking for blood pressure reduction: a case study

Hypertension is a noncommunicable disease commonly experienced by older adults and often causes complications. Some clients still have uncontrolled blood pressure despite receiving pharmacological therapy, necessitating nonpharmacological interventions as adjunctive therapy. This study aimed to determine the effect of combining progressive muscle relaxation therapy and warm-water foot soaking using red ginger on lowering blood pressure in older adults with hypertension. This study used a case study design with a pretest-posttest approach in one older respondent with hypertension. The intervention was administered for three consecutive days, with blood pressure measured before and after the intervention. The instruments used included a sphygmomanometer, a water thermometer, and a blood pressure observation sheet. The results showed that systolic blood pressure decreased by 19–24 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 3–24 mmHg during the three days of intervention, and that the sense of relaxation increased, affecting the client's quality of rest. It was concluded that the combination of progressive muscle relaxation therapy and warm-water foot soaking using red ginger has potential as a nonpharmacological nursing intervention to help control blood pressure in older adults with hypertension. Community nurses and nurses in primary care can use this combination of therapies as an adjunctive intervention to help control blood pressure, particularly in older adults with hypertension.