APPLICATION OF COMBINED WARM WATER FOOT SOAK AND DEEP BREATHING RELAXATION THERAPY FOR HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS
WITH ACUTE PAIN
(A Case Study in the Dahlia Ward, Dr. Hardjono Regional General Hospital, Ponorogo)

By: Eka Fatmawati

Hypertension is a chronic condition that can cause acute pain—specifically headaches—thereby compromising comfort and interfering with daily activities. A combination of warm-water foot soaking and deep breathing relaxation can serve as a complementary therapy to help alleviate pain. This study aimed to examine the application of this combined therapy in a hypertensive patient experiencing acute pain.

The study employed a descriptive design using a case study approach based on the nursing process. It focused on a single patient, Mrs. S, at the Dahlia Ward of Dr. Hardjono Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in Ponorogo over a seven-day period—three days in the hospital and four days at home. The combined intervention was administered once daily for approximately 15 minutes, with pain intensity evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) before and after each session.

Initial assessment of Mrs. S revealed a throbbing, intermittent headache radiating to the back of the neck; the pain worsened with activity and registered an intensity of 8 on the scale. Following the seven-day intervention, the patient reported no pain (scale 0) and experienced no dizziness. She appeared more relaxed, showed reduced grimacing, and demonstrated improved functional ability; additionally, her blood pressure, pulse rate, and breathing patterns improved.

The application of this therapy combined helps reduce acute pain in hypertensive patients and can be utilized as a complementary treatment alongside pharmacological therapy, in accordance with healthcare professionals'
recommendations.

Keywords: hypertension, acute pain, warm water foot soak, deep breathing relaxation