Effectiveness of Foot Massage on Diabetic Patients' Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of foot massage for patients who have diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

Methods: A true experimental study was conducted from November 3, 2022 to May 18, 2023. A probability (simple random) sample of (52) diabetic patients diagnosed with DPN at Al-Hassan Specialized Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes, Karbala, Iraq. The study samples were randomly divided into two groups: Foot massage group which received three sessions per week for two weeks, and the control group that did not receive any intervention. The data collection instrument was the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy score (TCNS). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.

Results: The decrease in the TCNS level in the intervention group was significant (0.000). In comparison with the control group, there was a significant difference in the foot massage group (0.003) in the post-test. While there was a non-significant difference in comparing the control group in the post-test.

Conclusion: Although foot massage is supportive care techniques for diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy, foot massage was significant effect at the DPN level. This technique has been used to be most useful as supportive care when considering non-pharmacological interventions to improve DPN and prevent complications among diabetes patients.