Effect of Foot Reflexology on Muscle Electrical Activity, Pressure, Plantar Distribution, and Body Sway in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Thais Gebin Toledo, Larissa Alves Moreira Freire, Luciana Maria dos Reis, Andréia Maria Silva Vilela Terra and Adriana Teresa Silva Santos ()
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Thais Gebin Toledo: Human Performance Research Laboratory, Institute of Motor Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Santa Clara Campus, Alfenas 37133-840, MG, Brazil
Larissa Alves Moreira Freire: Human Performance Research Laboratory, Institute of Motor Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Santa Clara Campus, Alfenas 37133-840, MG, Brazil
Luciana Maria dos Reis: Human Performance Research Laboratory, Institute of Motor Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Santa Clara Campus, Alfenas 37133-840, MG, Brazil
Andréia Maria Silva Vilela Terra: Human Performance Research Laboratory, Institute of Motor Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Santa Clara Campus, Alfenas 37133-840, MG, Brazil
Adriana Teresa Silva Santos: Human Performance Research Laboratory, Institute of Motor Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Santa Clara Campus, Alfenas 37133-840, MG, Brazil

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: Objective: To verify the effect of foot reflexology on the electrical muscle activity of the lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscle, and to examine the distribution, plantar pressure, and body sway in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: This pilot randomized controlled trial enrolled 17 volunteers who were clinically diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The sample was assigned to one of two groups: the control group (CG, n = 7), who received information on foot care and health, and the intervention group (IG, n = 10), who received the application of foot reflexology on specific areas of the feet, for 10 consecutive days. There was blinding of the evaluator and the therapist. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to assess the electrical activity of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles in maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and isotonic contraction (IC); baropodometry and stabilometry were used to analyze unloading, plantar weight distribution, and body sway. Results: There was a statistically significant difference for the variables of maximum peak electrical activity of the left medial gastrocnemius ( p = 0.03; effect size = 0.87 and power = 0.81) and left lateral gastrocnemius muscles ( p = 0.04, effect size = 0.70 and power = 0.66) respectively, in the intragroup IC, and median frequency of the left medial gastrocnemius muscle in the intragroup MVIC ( p = 0.03; effect size = 0.64 and power = 0.59), and in the variables intergroups of the total area on the right side ( p = 0.04; effect size = 1.03 and power = 0.50) and forefoot area on the left side ( p = 0.02; effect size = 0.51 and power = 0.16). Conclusions: We conclude that foot reflexology influenced some variables of the intergroup plantar distribution and intragroup EMG in the sample studied. There is a need for a placebo group, a larger sample and a follow-up to strengthen the findings of these experiments.

Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus; foot reflexology; rehabilitation; EMG; integrative and complementary medicine; balance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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