Whirlpool therapy on postoperative pain and surgical wound healing: an exploration

Postoperatively, patients who have major abdominal surgery, experience pain because of increased tension on muscles and tissues at the abdominal incision site. Also, pain is due to trapped anesthesia gases in the intestines. These postoperative events can cause increased anxiety and stress resulting in poor pain management and altered tissue regeneration. An intervention, such as whirlpool therapy, can enhance relaxation and promote pain relief and normal wound healing. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of whirlpool therapy on pain and surgical wound healing in adults having major abdominal surgery. Sixty-three subjects (43 female and 20 male), ages 25-60, participated in a quasi-experimental study of repeated measures of pain and surgical wound assessments over a 3-day period. Statistical tests for repeated measures revealed that the experimental group response to verbal pain was not significant. However, it did reveal that observable pain behaviors using the Pain Rating Scale (PRS) were significant for three consecutive days. Also, statistical tests for repeated measures of wound healing revealed less signs of surgical wound inflammation in the experimental group over a 3-day period. It was concluded that the intervention of whirlpool therapy promoted some degree of comfort and positive signs of wound healing.