Modulation of Hemodynamic Responses in Hypertensive Patients via Sustained Thermal Salt Hydrotherapy: A Six-Day Pre-Experimental Study

Abstract

Hypertension remains a major global cardiovascular risk factor, with prevalence in Indonesia rising from 25.8% to 34.1%. Non-pharmacological modalities like warm salt-water foot-bath hydrotherapy offer an affordable complementary approach, yet their daily longitudinal effect in rural settings remains insufficiently documented. This study evaluated the effectiveness of thermal salt foot-bath hydrotherapy on systolic and diastolic blood pressure among hypertensive residents in Kubangsari Village. A pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was conducted with twenty purposively selected participants (n = 20), receiving a daily 15–20-minute foot soak in 40-42^OC water with 1.5% sodium chloride over six consecutive days. Daily measurements were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test with Bonferroni correction (α= 0.0083). Mean systolic blood pressure decreased significantly from 166.10 ± 15.99 mmHg to 134.00 ± 8.05 mm Hg by day five (Δ = -32.10 mmHg, 19.33%: p < 0.001, Cohen's d_z = 2.16). Diastolic blood pressure showed a smaller reduction (88.00 ± 6.16 to 82.20 ± 7.59 mmHg, 6.59%) that lost statistical significance after alpha adjustment. Hypertensive crisis was fully eliminated by day one, and 35% achieved normotension by day five. Standardized thermal salt hydrotherapy induces a clinically meaningful, predominantly systolic reduction, serving as an effective complementary intervention for community hypertension management.