The effect of acupressure and foot exercise on ankle brachial index in individuals with Type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial

This research is a randomized controlled experimental design study aiming to determine the effects of acupressure and foot exercises on ankle-brachial index (ABI) in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The study was completed with 66 participants, 21 in acupressure group, 23 in foot exercise group and 22 in sham (placebo) group. Acupressure; a total of 6 applications were applied to the foot exercise and sham acupressure groups, 3 times a week for 2 weeks. Data collection tools consist of the Introductory Characteristics Form and the ABI Score Tracking Form. Data were collected from all three groups before the intervention, after the 3rd application (week 1) and after the 6th application (week 2). The normality distribution of the data was evaluated with ±2 values of kurtosis and skewness, Shapiro Wilk p value and Q-Q plot. For descriptive statistics, number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square test, Yates correction, Fisher's exact chi-square test, Freeman-Halton Fisher's Exact Chi-square test were used for comparison of categorical variables and Kruskal Wallis H test and One-way variance (Anova) test were used for comparison of continuous data. After application, the first, second and third right and left measurement ABI values of the acupressure and foot exercise group (acupressure group right - left 1st measurement: 1,22±0,13- 1,18±0,13, 2nd measurement: 1,31±0,15 1,30±0,16, 3rd measurement: 1,31±0,15- 1,31±0,16, foot exercise group right - left 1st measurement: 1,18±0,13 1,19±0,13, 2nd measurement: 1,24±0,13- 1,24±0,12, 3rd measurement: 1,27±0,16- 1,28±0,16) was higher than the right and left first, second and third measurement ABI value of the sham acupressure group (sham acupressure group right - left 1st measurement: 1,19±0,15 1,20±0,14, 2nd measurement: 1,19±0,12- 1,19±0,11, 3rd measurement: 1,17±0,11- 1,19±0,12), a significant difference was determined (p< 0,05).Study results showed that acupressure and foot exercises were effective on ABI in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.