Acute pain is a problem commonly experienced by patients following abdominal surgery and may interfere with comfort and the recovery process. Foot reflexology is a non-pharmacological intervention that can be used as a complementary therapy in pain management.
This study employed a descriptive case study method using a nursing process approach in one patient following abdominal surgery (cholecystectomy) with the nursing problem of Acute Pain in the Flamboyan Ward of RSUD Dr. Harjono S. Ponorogo. Data collection was carried out from August 11–13, 2026 through participatory observation, interviews, physical examination, and documentation review. Foot reflexology was administered once daily for three consecutive days, with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes, given 5 hours after analgesic administration. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale before and 15 minutes after the intervention.
At the initial assessment, the patient reported a pain score of 6/10, accompanied by facial grimacing, a protective posture, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, decreased appetite, and an increased pulse rate. Following the application of foot reflexology, the pain score progressively decreased to 4/10 on the first day, 3/10 on the second day, and 2/10 on the third day. Along with this reduction in pain, the patient appeared calmer, vital signs improved, and appetite increased. On the third day, the nursing problem of Acute Pain was declared resolved and the intervention was discontinued.
The consistent decrease in pain score over the three days indicates an association between the administration of foot reflexology and the improvement in the patient's pain response, consistent with the theory that stimulation of foot reflex points can trigger the release of endorphins and reduce nociceptor sensitivity, thereby reinforcing foot reflexology as a non-pharmacological therapy that complements analgesics in the management of acute pain following abdominal surgery.
The nursing problem of Acute Pain was declared resolved on the third day of implementation. These findings imply that foot reflexology is worth considering as part of evidence-based nursing intervention in the pain management of post-abdominal-surgery patients, and it is recommended that nurses apply it consistently, that further research be conducted using a stronger study design, and that it be integrated into hospital nursing care standards.