Curative effect of Chinese medicine foot bath combined with foot massage on diabetic peripheral neuropathy / 中国基层医药

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the curative effect of Chinese medicine foot bath combined with foot massage on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).Methods:Seventy-six patients with DPN who received treatment in Lishui Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2018 to December 2019 were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to undergo either Chinese medicine foot bath combined with foot massage (combined treatment group, n = 38) or Chinese medicine foot bath alone (single treatment group, n = 38) for 4 successive weeks in addition to diet and exercise management, medication for lowing blood glucose level, microcirculation improvement, and neurotrophic treatment. Before and after treatment, Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score, Michigan Diabetic Neuropathy Score, and combined foot score were compared between the combined treatment and single treatment groups. The curative effect was also compared between the two groups. Results:After 4 weeks of treatment, Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score [(5.82 ± 0.57) points, (7.62 ± 0.89) points], Michigan Diabetic Neuropathy Score [(14.92 ± 2.16) points, (18.01 ± 2.87) points], combined foot score [(3.17 ± 0.49) points, (4.41 ± 0.52) points] in the combined treatment and single treatment groups were significantly lower than those before treatment [(9.84 ± 1.27) points, (9.65 ± 1.21) points, (23.09 ± 4.03) points, (22.81 ± 3.92) points, (5.62 ± 0.85) points, (5.76 ± 0.73) points, t = 3.137, 2.361, 2.952, 2.392, 3.341, 2.427, all P < 0.05]. The declines in the combined treatment group were significantly greater than those in the single treatment group (all P < 0.05). Total effective rate in the combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in the single treatment group (94.74% vs. 78.95%, χ2 = 4.150, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Chinese medicine foot bath combined with foot massage is effective for DPN, which can significantly improve the clinical symptoms and promote the recovery of neurological function.