Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05878431

Foot Reflexology in Diabetic Patients With Neuropathic Pain

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.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus Behavior Endocrine System Diseases Glucose Metabolism Disorders Health Behavior Metabolic Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neuralgia Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Patient Acceptance of Health Care Patient Engagement Patient Participation Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Reflexology Signs and Symptoms Treatment Adherence and Compliance

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Mus State Hospital

Muş, 49000, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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.

Treatment and study plan

Foot reflexology

Other

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Vizüel Analog Scale (VAS)

    Time frame: At the end of the 6-week intervention

  2. Herth Hope Scale

    Time frame: At the end of the 6-week intervention

  3. Neuropathic Pain Impact on Quality of Life Questionnaire (NePIQOL)

    Time frame: At the end of the 6-week intervention

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Muş Alparslan University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

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

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
May 26, 2023
Registry last updated
Feb 11, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.