Effect of Reflexology on Diabetic Foot and Glycemic Control in Elderly Diabetic Individuals

June 1, 2020 updated by: Abant Izzet Baysal University

Effect of Reflexology on Ankle Brachial Index, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, and Glycemic Control in Elderly Diabetic Individuals

Background: Glycemic control can be difficult in the elderly with diabetes.Diabetic foot problems characterized by vascular and neuropathy are serious complications. The effectiveness of reflexology has been demonstrated to achieve glycemic control and manage diabetic foot problems.

Objectives: To determine the effect of foot reflexology on ankle brachial index (ABI), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and glycemic control in elderly diabetic individuals.

Design: A randomized clinical trial. Settings: An outpatient elderly health center in Turkey. Participants: 48 individuals aged 65 and over enrolled in the elderly health center were included.

Methods: The elderly were randomized into two groups (study, n=24; control,n=24). Foot reflexology was performed for 12 week in the study group, whereas the control group continued their routine treatment and follow-up. Both groups underwent a comprehensive foot examination for evaluating ABI and DPN at baseline and after 12 weeks; furthermore, glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin-HbA1c) was evaluated. An independent two-sample t-test was performed for pre- and post-test between-group comparisons; an effect size analysis was performed to determine the effect of intervention.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Background: Elderly individuals often refer to the health facility with the complications of diabetes as the first reason. Glycemic control can be quite difficult in elderly diabetic individuals compared to other age groups. Diabetic foot problems, leading to progressive problems from circulatory disorders and nervous loss to organ loss, constitute the most serious complications. Foot reflexology has been shown as a useful practice in the management of glycemic control and foot problems in diabetic individuals. Reflexology has been shown to have a positive effect on glycemic control and the management of diabetic foot problems. There are clinical trials of reflexology in Turkey for use in a variety of diseases or conditions, but there are no studies about diabetes or diabetes complications. Therefore, current research is a first in this regard. In this context, this study has been performed to determine the effect of foot reflexology on ABI, DPN, and glycemic control in elderly diabetic individuals.

Design: A randomized clinical trial. Settings: An outpatient elderly health center in Turkey. Participants: 48 individuals aged 65 and over enrolled in the elderly health center were included.

Measures: At baseline, subjective area was collected by participant information form. Glycemic control was evaluated with HbA1c. DPN and ABI assessment were performed by physical examination of the foot at baseline and three months later.

Methods: The elderly were randomized into two groups (study, n=24; control, n=24). Foot reflexology was performed for 12 week in the study group, whereas the control group continued their routine treatment and follow-up. Both groups underwent a comprehensive foot examination for evaluating ABI and DPN at baseline and after 12 weeks; furthermore, HbA1c was evaluated. An independent two-sample t-test was performed for pre- and post-test between-group comparisons; an effect size analysis was performed to determine the effect of intervention.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

48

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey
      • Bolu, Turkey
        • Bolu Elderly Health Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years and older (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Older than 65 years with type 2 diabetes
  • No fractures or open wounds on both lower limbs
  • No single or double sided amputation on the lower limbs.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • Acute infection with fever
  • Acute surgical conditions
  • Receiving dialysis treatment
  • Being a verbal communication problem related to Alzheimer's or dementia

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention group
Foot reflexology was performed for 12 week in the intervention group, whereas the control group continued their routine treatment and follow-up.
Other: Foot reflexology
Foot reflexology was performed for 12 week in the study group,whereas the control group continued their routine treatment and follow-up.
No Intervention: Control group
Usual follow-up was done to the control group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Means of Ankle Brachial Index score
Time Frame: 3-month change
Vascular assessment test to assess peripheral circulation in the lower limbs. The measurement, obtained by dividing the highest ankle arterial pressure (posterior tibial or dorsalis pedis) on the same side by brachial pressure, was evaluated using a 5-10-MHz handheld Doppler device and a blood pressure cuff.
3-month change
Means of Diabetic peripheral neuropathy score
Time Frame: 3-month change
Measurement parameter testing whether there is nerve damage due to diabetes by physical examination of the foot. The examination was determined using symptom and disability scores. Symptom scores included questions related to complaints experienced by patients, the location of the complaints, the presence of night or day symptoms, and how the symptoms relieved/subsided. Disability scores were determined with four parameters: vibration sensation (128 Hz tuning fork), pinprick sensation, achilles reflex and sensitivity to touch (Semmes-Weinstein nylon monofilaments 10 g).Participant responses and examination findings were scored according to a guideline and a neuropathy score was obtained for each participant.
3-month change
HbA1c levels (%)
Time Frame: 3-month change
Blood test to evaluate glycemic control. Blood sample was collected in EDTA-coated tubes (2 mL of whole) from the participants.
3-month change

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Abant Izzet Baysal University

Collaborators

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Investigators

  • Study Director: Süleyman ÖZSARI, PhD, DR, Bolu Provincial Health Directorate

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 1, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 22, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 26, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 1, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

June 4, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 4, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 1, 2020

Last Verified

June 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AIBU-HSF-SCC-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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