Effects of aromatherapy acupressure on hemiplegic shoulder pain and motor power in stroke patients: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine if aromatherapy acupressure, compared to acupressure alone, was effective in reducing hemiplegic shoulder pain and improving motor power in stroke patients. DESIGN This work was a randomized, controlled trial. SUBJECTS Thirty (30) stroke patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain participated in this study. INTERVENTION Subjects were randomly assigned to either an aromatherapy acupressure group (N = 15) or an acupressure group ( N = 15), with aromatherapy acupressure using lavender, rosemary, and peppermint given only to the former group. Each acupressure session lasted 20 minutes and was performed twice-daily for 2 weeks. OUTCOMES MEASURES Shoulder pain and motor power were the outcome measures used in this study. RESULTS The pain scores were markedly reduced in both groups at post-treatment, compared to pretreatment (both aroma acupressure and acupressure group, p < 0.001). A nonparametric statistical analysis revealed that the pain score differed significantly between the 2 groups at post-treatment ( p < 0.01). The motor power significantly improved at post-treatment, compared to pretreatment, in both groups ( p < 0.005). However, there was no intergroup difference between two groups. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that aromatherapy acupressure exerts positive effects on hemiplegic shoulder pain, compared to acupressure alone, in stroke patients.