All included participants were randomly allocated into three
groups of ice massage, acupressure and placebo. In previous studies
it was noted that massage was performed between 7 and
20 min. However in the active phase of labor, contraction
interval times gradually decrease and patients may experience at
least one painful contraction in every 10 min. Therefore in the
present study, after identifying the Hegu point on the hand, ice
massage was performed with the researcher placing ice balls (2 cm
in diameter) inside a wet thin Gauze into the hand and massaging
rotationally for 10 min (2 min pressure and 15 min break). In the
acupressure group, the same massage procedure was performed
using a glass marble (glass ball) In the placebo group ice balls were
used at the same point but without pressure or massage.