Introduction: A common problem in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery is changes in physiological indexes following anxiety and pain due to surgery, which have negative consequences. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of foot reflexology massage on physiological indexes of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

  Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 52 patients undergoing surgery. Data collection tool was a demographic questionnaire and physiological indexes checklist. Patients were randomly assigned into treatment and control groups. Patients in treatment group received massage once for 30 minutes. Patients` physiological indexes were measured twice with a 30-minute interval. Data was analyzed by Chi-square, and paired and independent t-tests in SPSS software version 16.

  Results: The mean systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced in treatment compared to control group after intervention (p=0.046). In treatment group the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures showed significant differences before and after intervention (p<0.001, p=0.022 respectively). But the mean diastolic blood pressure had no significant difference between the two groups after the intervention. However, heart rate and respiration showed no significant difference between the two groups after intervention.

  Conclusion: Foot reflexology was effective in reducing systolic blood pressure in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, but had no effect on other physiological parameters. More studies in this area are recommended.