Tissue Massage Reduces a Common Diabetes-Related D

New Research Shows Connective Tissue Massage Reduces a Common Diabetes-Related Disease
It's not news that diabetes is prevalent; what is news is this: Researchers in Spain have found that connective-tissue massage improves blood circulation in the lower limbs of Type-2 diabetic patients, and may be useful to slow the progression of peripheral arterial disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million children and adults in the United States—7.8 percent of the population—have diabetes. In "Connective Tissue Reflex

for Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease: Randomized Controlled Trial," 98 Type-2 diabetes patients with stage I or II-a peripheral arterial disease (PAD) were randomly assigned to a massage group or to a placebo group treated using disconnected magnetotherapy equipment, according to an abstract published on PAD "occurs when blood vessels in the legs are narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits, and blood flow to [the] feet and legs decrease," according to the American Diabetes Association. For this study, peripheral arterial circulation was determined by measuring differential segmental arterial pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, oxygen saturation and skin blood flow. Measurements were taken before and at 30 min, six months and one year after the 15-week treatment. At six months and one year, the groups differed in differential segmental arterial pressure in upper third of left and right legs. The research was conducted by researchers at the Universidad de Almería and is published in Complementary & Alternative Medicine. A combination of acupressure and breath awareness may help people with diabetes, according to a study originally published in the journal Health & Social Work. The study showed that a short stress-relief program including touch could lower blood sugar and improve health in diabetic patients. Researchers at the New Mexico State University's social work department (now the School of Social Work) observed a high incidence of diabetes among Mexican-Americans in southern New Mexico. They believed that the use of a short relaxation program could have beneficial effects on the health of those with diabetes and their families. In cooperation with the San Miguel clinic, a study was designed that provided 15 minutes of breath work and acupressure with the goal of relieving stress for both the patient and the patient's family. Two students in the social work department were chosen to conduct the exploratory research study. A one-group, pre-test/post-test design was used. The group size was 12. At the start of the project, kuiirppste clinic staff and patients were introduced to holistic health practices, such as breathing techniques, acupressure and stress management. First, the patient and researcher both focused on their breath throughout the 15-minute session, in order to maintain emotional balance and empathy. Second, the researcher applied gentle touch: applying feather strokes on the back, shoulders and arms, squeezing the arms, stretching the hands, and gripping the wrists and fingers. Third, the researcher used acupressure on points on the patient's hands, shoulders, back, neck and head. There were three dependent variables measured in the study: stability of metabolic control, measured with blood sugar levels; persistence of physical symptoms, as measured by the Dartmouth COOP charts ( a question-and-answer test that assesses health and functioning); and self-perception of well-being, using post-session interviews, more COOP charts, and a "stressout survey" that measured perceived benefits of the sessions to the patients and their family and friends.