Effect of massage therapy on the level of blood glucose in diabetic children

Abstract

Introduction: Since the recognition of diabetes, different management methods have been found of which the most important ones are insulin and regimen therapies as well as exercise. Besides these types of management and treatment, complementary treatments such as massage therapy were also practiced in different societies. The goal of this study was assessment of the effect of massage therapy on the level of blood glucose in diabetic children.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental, two group, two step study. Samples included 15 diabetic children, 7-15 year-old, all having inclusion criteria of the study, randomized into two groups of control and massage. Sampling was done with convenience method and groups were divided randomly by the investigator. In massage group, parents had to massage the bodies of their children, 6 times everyday for 15 minutes at bedtime, for a period of two months. One glycated hemoglobin test was done as well as a retest after two months. The data were analyzed by SPSS software and descriptive inferential statistical methods.

Results: Paired t_-test showed that glycated hemoglobin decreased significantly after study in massage group compared with pre-study period (P<0.05). Analysis of variance showed a significant difference between pre- and post-study mean glycated hemoglobin levels between massage and control groups (P<0/05).

Conclusion: Results showed the positive effect of massage therapy on decreasing the blood glucose level in diabetic children. Therefore, this method can be suggested as a complement method in addition to the routine treatment of diabetes to control blood glucose level in diabetic children.