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Foot Reflexology in Diabetic Patients With Neuropathic Pain

The Effect of Foot Reflexology Applied on Diabetic Patients With Neuropathic Pain on the Patients' Quality of Life, Hope and Pain Levels

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05878431
Enrollment
102
Registered
2023-05-26
Start date
2022-01-01
Completion date
2022-12-01
Last updated
2025-02-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Patient Engagement, Reflexology

Keywords

Reflexology, Diabetes Mellitus, Neuropathic Pain, Hope, Quality of Life

Brief summary

This study was carried out to determine the effect of foot reflexology applied to diabetic patients with neuropathic pain on their quality of life, hope and pain levels. This research, which was designed as a randomized controlled and experimental study, was conducted between January 2022 and December 2022. It was determined that foot reflexology application increased the quality of life and hope level of diabetic patients with neuropathic pain and decreased the level of pain.

Detailed description

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the effect of foot reflexology applied to diabetic patients with neuropathic pain on their quality of life, hope and pain levels. Material and Method: This research, which was designed as a randomized controlled and experimental study, was conducted between January 2022 and December 2022. The data of the study consisted of 102 diabetic patients with neuropathic pain, 51 of whom were experimental and 51 were controls. As data collection tools; Patient Information Form, Herth Hope Scale (HHI), Four-Question Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (DN4Q), Neuropathic Pain Impact on Quality of Life Questionnaire (NePIQoL), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were used. A total of 12 sessions of foot reflexology were applied to the patients in the experimental group, twice a week for 6 weeks. No intervention was performed on the patients in the control group.

Interventions

OTHERFoot Reflexology

The patients in the experimental group underwent 12 sessions of foot reflexology in a quiet room, twice a week, for 6 weeks. No application was made to the patients in the control group. FOOT REFLEXOLOGY APPLICATION STAGES * Application of heating methods such as Achilles tendon stretching, wrist loosening, walking the thumbs of both hands on the soles of the feet and wringing the laundry, which lasts about 3 minutes, * Pressure on the brain, cervical region, solar plexus (the projection of the central nervous system on the sole of the foot), lymph system, adrenal glands, urinary system, digestive system, sciatic nerve, hips, knees and reflex points on the soles of the legs for about 10-15 minutes. implementation (Figure 3.4), * Ending the application by applying heating methods such as Achilles tendon stretching, wrist loosening, walking the thumbs of both hands on the soles of the feet and wringing the laundry, which lasts approximately 3 minutes after the application.

Sponsors

Muş Alparslan University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Masking description

In this study, patients were randomized to the experimental and control groups by using a simple random numbers table from the computer-assisted randomization program in accordance with the simple random sampling method. In this study, participants in the experimental and control groups were blind to each other; however, the researcher was not blinded to the group allocation as he was also the practitioner.

Intervention model description

This study was conducted as a single-blind randomized controlled study with pretest-posttest

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* 18 years old and over * Do not have any physical or mental illness that will prevent communication, * Diabetic neuropathic pain \[with a total score of at least 4 and above according to the Four-Question Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (DN4Q)\] * Patients who can read, write and speak Turkish

Exclusion criteria

* Complications developing during reflexology practice, * Not attending at least one of the practice sessions, * It was planned to exclude patients who wanted to leave at any stage of the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Vizüel Analog Scale (VAS)At the end of the 6-week intervention
Herth Hope ScaleAt the end of the 6-week intervention
Neuropathic Pain Impact on Quality of Life Questionnaire (NePIQOL)At the end of the 6-week intervention

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026