Effect of Self-Foot Reflexology on Peripheral Blood Circulation and Peripheral Neuropathy in patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Jeong, Ihn Sook

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the effect of self-foot reflexology on peripheral blood circulation, peripheral neuropathy and to determine the feasibility of self-foot reflexology as a nursing intervention. METHOD: This was nonequivalent control pretest-posttest study with 76 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (ages between 40-79) recruited from public health centers in Busan city. Intervention was a 6 week self-foot reflexology, and outcome variables were peripheral blood circulation and peripheral neuropathy(tactile response to monofilament, intensity of symptoms of peripheral neuropathy). ANCOVA was used to do the statistical analysis. A .05 significance level was set for evaluating the effects of self-foot reflexology.
RESULTS
The self-foot reflexology was relatively effective not only in reducing peripheral neuropathy(especially tingling sensation and pain) but also in improving ability to sense the 10-g force monofilament.
CONCLUSION
Even though self-foot reflexology was not effective in improving peripheral circulation, it had good effect on improving peripheral neuropathy. Therefore self-foot reflexology can be used as a nursing intervention program for promoting foot care for patients with DM patients.