Available online 20 September 2023

Author links open overlay panel, , , , AbstractIntroduction

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases. Reflexology is a form of treatment which involves giving massage or pressure to the particular points of the feet and hands. This study was performed to find the effect of reflexology at pancreatic area of palms (RPP) on random blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Materials and Methods

This study was done at Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College, Chennai, India. A total of 100 participants with T2DM were randomly allocated to reflexology group (RG) (n=50) and control group (CG) (n=50). RG underwent only one session of RPP for the duration of 20-minutes (10-minutes to right palm followed by 10-minutes to left palm), while the CG was on rest in sitting posture for the duration of 20-minutes. Random blood glucose levels (RBG) were assessed before and after the intervention.

Results

Inter group analysis showed a significant reduction in RBG levels in the RG (z=4.606; p <0.001; Effect size: d=0.243), unlike CG (t=0.668; p=0.507; Effect size: d=0.023). However, between-groups analyses did not show a significant difference in RBG levels between the groups (z=1.406, p=0.160; Effect size: d=0.307). None of the participants reported any adverse events during or after the study.

Conclusion

RG reduces RBG levels with a small effect size compared to CG. Thus, twenty minutes of RPP might have some effect in reducing blood glucose levels in patients with T2DM. However, further studies are required to warrant the results of this study.

Section snippetsINTRODUCTION

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by chronic hyperglycemia due to relative insulin deficiency or resistance or both.[1] American Diabetes Association (ADA) classified the diabetes as type 1 diabetes mellitus (β-cell destruction, usually leading to absolute insulin deficiency), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (ranging from predominantly insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency to predominantly an insulin secretory defect with insulin resistance), other

Study design

This is a randomized controlled study. Recruited participants (n=100) were randomly allocated to reflexology group (RG) (n=50) and control group (CG) (n=50). RG underwent only one session of reflexology at pancreatic area of both palms, while the CG was on rest in sitting posture for the duration of 20 minutes. Assessments were performed before and after the intervention (Fig. 1, Fig. 2).

Study Settings

This study was carried out at Department of Acupuncture and Energy Medicine, Government Yoga and Naturopathy

RESULTS

Out of 130, 100 participants fulfilled the eligibility criteria and included in the study. Participants were randomly divided into RG and CG through computerized randomization. All baseline and demographic variables were comparable and no significant difference exists between the groups (Table 1). Inter group analysis showed a significant reduction in RBG levels in the RG (z= 4.606; p <0.001; Effect size: d=0.243), unlike CG (t =0.668; p=0.507; Effect size: d=0.023). However, between-groups

DISCUSSION

Reflexology has been chosen by most people to treat their body health problems because it is safe and effective. It also offers natural treatment without consuming drugs and it is easy to use.1 Learning reflexology and its application is quite easy, there is no limitation for people to apply it anytime and anywhere.[8] Though many studies found the effect of foot reflexology in T2DM,[13], [14], [15] studies on hand reflexology is limited. Thus, the present study was carried out to find the

CONCLUSION

RG reduces RBG levels with a small effect size compared to CG. Thus, twenty minutes of RPP might have some effect in reducing blood glucose levels in patients with T2DM. However, further studies are required to warrant the results of this study.

SOURCE OF FUNDUING

Nil

Author statement

The conception and design of the study: SS, MA, KK

Acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data: SS, MA, MN,

Drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content: SS, MA, MN, KK

Final approval of the version to be submitted: SS, MA, MN, KK, MN

Ethical statement

The study protocol was approved by the institutional ethics committee of Government yoga and naturopathy medical college, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India (Ref. no:RES/IEC-GYNMC/2021/113).

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None declared

Declaration of Competing Interest

We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.

We confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. We further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us.

We confirm that we

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