Footbath Therapy in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review of Physical and Psychological Outcomes and Implication for Nursing Practice

 This one from  January 2015 has an interesting conclusion.

S2-3 Improvements in spasticity and motor function using a foot bath for people with chronic hemiparesis following stroke

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the use of foot baths is an effective non-pharmacological anti-spastic treatment that might facilitate stroke rehabilitation. In addition, the high concentration CO₂ water foot baths appeared to play an important role in decreased spasticity. 

Footbath Therapy in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review of Physical and Psychological Outcomes and Implication for Nursing Practice

Eni Marwanti^(1*), I Made Kariasa⁽²⁾, Riri Maria⁽³⁾


(1) Universitas Indonesia RSUP Dr Kariadi Semarang
(2) Universitas Indonesia
(3) Universitas Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

Stroke remains a major neurological condition that frequently results in long-term functional impairments and reduced quality of life among survivors. In addition to pharmacological therapy, various non-pharmacological interventions have been investigated to support recovery, among which footbath therapy has demonstrated potential benefits for both physical and psychological outcomes. This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesise current scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of footbath therapy in stroke patients. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted for articles published between 2014 and 2024 in ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, EBSCO, PubMed, and Google Scholar, using keywords developed through the PICO framework. A narrative synthesis approach was employed to analyze the findings, with six eligible studies comprising four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two quasi-experimental studies. The findings suggest that footbath therapy may enhance parasympathetic nervous system activity, improve muscle strength, and reduce spasticity and physical fatigue. Psychologically, it appears to alleviate anxiety and psycho-emotional stress while promoting comfort and sleep satisfaction. The evidence suggests potential benefits of footbath therapy in stroke patients. Given its low risk and ease of implementation, footbath therapy may be regarded as a promising complementary intervention in stroke patients. However, the evidence is based on a small number of heterogeneous studies, and the overall quality of evidence appears limited, suggesting that the findings should be interpreted with caution. Therefore, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to strengthen the evidence.

S2-3 Improvements in spasticity and motor function using a foot bath for people with chronic hemiparesis following stroke

If this truly works how many years before your hospital creates a stroke protocol on this. Do not do this on your own. You know how dangerous foot baths would be if it is not prescribed by your doctor.
I'm betting 50 years. I would ask for testing of this on hand and arms. But I have no place to ask for such testing because we have crap for stroke associations.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/onki/77/5/77_414/_article

Shuji MATSUMOTO¹⁾

1) Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University

Released 20150115  

Keywords: Foot bath, Spasticity, Motor function, High concentration carbon-dioxide, Muscle stiffness

• Full Text PDF [41K]

• Abstracts

Objectives: Spasticity is defined as a pathological increase in muscle tonus, and increased muscle tonus of lower limbs is a major obstacle to the stroke rehabilitation. Foot baths are considered to provide beneficial thermal therapy for post-stroke patients with spasticity, but their anti-spastic effects have not been investigated comprehensively. The present study aimed to evaluate alterations in spasticity and motor function using foot baths in post-stroke patients with spastic hemiplegia.
Methods: We underwent two separate experiments each consisting of immersion in warm water up to the knee joint level, and measuring spasticity, physiological examination and motor function.
Experiment 1; Fourteen post-stroke patients with lower limb spasticity were enrolled in this study (nine males and five females; mean age 50.4±12.9 years; range, 28-65 years). The subjects’ legs from below the knee joint were immersed in water at 41°C for 15 min. Measurements of F-waves and a physiological examination were carried out immediately (within 5 min) after the foot-bath session, and again 30 min later, while the subject remained wrapped in blankets on the lift-bath stretcher.
Experiment 2; Six post-stroke patients with lower limb spasticity were enrolled in this study (five males and one female; mean age 55.2±14.6 years; range, 39-68 years). The subjects’ legs from below the knee joint were immersed in the artificial high concentration carbon-dioxide (CO₂) water or tap water foot bath at 38°C for 30 min. Measurements of muscle stiffness, motor function (active range of motion: A-ROM) and a physiological examination were carried out immediately (within 5 min) after the foot-bath session, and again 10 min later, while the subject remained wrapped in blankets.
Results: None of the subjects experienced discomfort before, during or after the foot-bath treatment. The physiological examination was completed safely in all subjects.
Experiment 1; The mean values of F-wave parameters were significantly reduced after foot-bath treatment (P<0.01). The anti-spastic effects of foot-bath treatment were indicated by decreased F-wave parameters, in parallel with decreases in modified Ashworth scale (MAS) score. The body temperature was significantly increased both immediately after, and 30 min following foot-bath treatment.
Experiment 2; The changes both in the body and surface skin temperature were higher in the artificial high concentration CO₂ water foot bath compared with the tap water foot bath. The changes in the MAS score, muscle stiffness and A-ROM were also higher in the high concentration CO₂ water foot bath than in the tap water foot bath.
Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the use of foot baths is an effective non-pharmacological anti-spastic treatment that might facilitate stroke rehabilitation. In addition, the high concentration CO₂ water foot baths appeared to play an important role in decreased spasticity.