%0 Journal Article
%T Determination of Efficacy of Reflexology in Managing Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
%A Krishna Dalal
%A V. Bharathi Maran
%A Ravindra M. Pandey
%A Manjari Tripathi
%J Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/843036
%X Background. The restricted usage of existing pharmacological methods which do not seem to provide the treatment of diabetic neuropathy may lead to exploring the efficacy of a complementary therapy. In this context, this paper was devoted to evaluate the efficacy of foot reflexology. This health science works on the hypothesis that the dysfunctional states of body parts could be identified by observing certain skin features and be rectified by stimulating certain specific areas mapped on feet. Method. Subjects ( ) with diagnosed diabetic neuropathy were randomly distributed into reflexology and control groups in which both group patients were treated with ongoing pharmacological drugs. Reflexology group patients were additionally treated holistically with the hypothesis that this therapy would bring homeostasis among body organ functions. This was a caregiver-based study with a follow-up period of 6 months. The outcome measures were pain reduction, glycemic control, nerve conductivity, and thermal and vibration sensitivities. The skin features leading to the detection of the abnormal functional states of body parts were also recorded and analyzed. Results. Reflexology group showed more improvements in all outcome measures than those of control subjects with statistical significance. Conclusion. This study exhibited the efficient utility of reflexology therapy integrated with conventional medicines in managing diabetic neuropathy. 1. Introduction Diabetes is the single most important metabolic disease, which can affect nearly every organ system in the body [1]. The prevalence of diabetes for all age groups worldwide was estimated to be 2.8% in 2000 and was expected to be raised up to 4.4% in 2030. The most important demographic change to diabetes prevalence across the world appears to be increased in the proportion of people older than 65 years of age [2]. According to the Diabetes Atlas 2006 published by the International Diabetes Federation, the number of people with diabetes in India is currently around 40.9 million and is expected to be raised to 69.9 million by 2025 unless urgent preventive steps are taken [3]. Much more alarming is the growing incidences of gestational diabetes in India, of which 60 percent of the population is known to develop diabetes later in life. These statistics are of great public health concern, because people with diabetes are 25 times more likely to develop blindness, 17 times more likely to develop kidney disease, 30 to 40 times more likely to undergo amputation, two to four times more likely to develop myocardial
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2014/843036/