The Effect of Warm Foot Baths on Sleep Quality, Fatigue, and Bowel Function in Patients With Stroke

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke patients commonly experience sleep disturbances, fatigue, and bowel dysfunction, which negatively impact rehabilitation outcomes. Non-pharmacological interventions such as warm foot baths may offer supportive benefits. This study aimed to examine the effects of warm foot baths on sleep quality, fatigue, and constipation severity in patients with stroke. METHODS: A pretest-post-test control group design was used. The study was conducted between September 2024 and June 2025 with patients hospitalized for stroke at the neurology clinic of a training and research hospital in Eastern Turkey. The study population consisted of patients diagnosed with stroke who were followed up at the aforementioned unit during the study period. The 96 participants included 51 in the experimental and 45 in the control group; based on an effect size of 0.60, α=0.05, and power=0.95. Data were collected using the Personal Identification Form, Fatigue Severity Scale, Constipation Severity Scale, and Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire. The experimental group received a 20-minute warm foot bath 30 minutes before bedtime for 1 week, whereas the control group received routine care only. RESULTS: Foot baths did not significantly reduce fatigue compared with the control group. However, significant improvements were observed in constipation severity and sleep quality in the experimental group ( P <0.001). CONCLUSION: Warm foot baths were effective in reducing constipation severity and improving sleep quality in patients with stroke. The results suggest that foot baths can be considered a supportive and feasible complementary care approach for managing symptoms in patients with stroke. These findings support the use of non-pharmacological interventions in stroke rehabilitation.