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Efficacy of reflexology in managing patients with diabetic neuropathy

Discussion in 'General Issues and Discussion Forum' started by NewsBot, Feb 15, 2014.

  1. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
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    Determination of efficacy of reflexology in managing patients with diabetic neuropathy: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
    Dalal K, Maran VB, Pandey RM, Tripathi M.
    Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:843036
     
  2. Admin2

    Admin2 Administrator Staff Member

  3. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    Here is my analysis:

    - like almost all the recent reflexology studies I have commented on that are supposed to be randomized, this study ended up with exactly 29 in each group; while that can still happen by chance, its suspicious when it happens (especially when most RCT's on reflexology end up with exactly the same numbers in each group!)
    - this was actually a study of "reflexology" in that specific reflexology points were stimulated (most other recent RCTs on "reflexology" were nothing more than a damn good foot massage.
    - however, the control group had nothing; so did the study really test " reflexology" or did it test a "damn good foot rub" as there was NO placebo reflexology given (ie stimulation of non-reflexology points) - anyone, no matter what the medical condition is going to feel better and want to report improvement in all the parameters if they were given six months of foot rubs.... ie Hawthorne effect
    - the participants were not blinded - ie those getting and not getting the reflexology knew what they were or were not going to be getting. ..... of course those getting the treatment are going to be influenced inadvertently to report improvements! (which is why they should have used a placebo intervention)
    - no information was given as to the blinding of assessors.
    - the biggest flaw (and its a fatal flaw ... that is if the above points are not fatal enough!) is they did a within groups analysis rather than a between groups analysis ... huge mistake!

    There is no way that the design and data analysis of this study supports the authors conclusion of
    ...typical of all the reflexology studies that get published ...
     
  4. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
    1
    Effects of thai foot massage on balance performance in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy: a randomized parallel-controlled trial.
    Chatchawan U, Eungpinichpong W, Plandee P, Yamauchi J
    Med Sci Monit Basic Res. 2015 Apr 20;21:68-75
     
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