Tactile Massage or Relaxation Exercises Do Not Improve the Metabolic Control of Type 2 Diabetics~!2009-12-22~!2010-03-25~!2010-04-28~!

Abstract

A 0.8% reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1c) by tactile massage (TM) in patients with diabetes has been shown in a pilot study. The present study was carried out in patients with type 2 diabetes at primary healthcare centers as a parallel-arm clinical study with intention-to-treat analysis, of 10 weeks of TM once/week (n=26) or relaxation using a compact disc once/week (n=27). Anthropometrics were measured, i.e. weight, height, waist and calculation of BMI, blood samples were drawn, i.e. fP-glucose, B-HbA1c, fS-insulin, high-sensitive P-CRP, S-TNF-alpha, S-Interleukin-6, S-Adiponectin, S-Leptin and fP-Ghrelin, urine was collected for 24 hours for catecholamines and cortisol, and questionnaires including lifestyle variables were completed at baseline, after the 10-week intervention and at a followup 3 months after the intervention. There was no significant change in HbA1c in either the TM or the relaxation group. Waist circumference was reduced in both groups (p=0.01) but mostly in the TM group, with an adjusted difference between the groups of 4.0 cm (95% confidence interval 1.6-6.4 cm). The S-Adiponectin level increased significantly in the TM group (p=0.0095). TM therapy could not be recommended as a general treatment in subjects with type 2 diabetes. However, further studies in patients with high perceived level of stress and in other patient groups could be of value. The significance of the reduced waist is unclear, but could be of some importance in the long run.

Neurophysiology of human touch and eye gaze in therapeutic relationships and healing: a scoping review

“…Of the 64 studies included in the review (Table 1), most (61%) were set in the clinical environment, 72-110 with the vast majority of studies conducted in the US (39%), 42,79,80,83-90,93,95,97,98,104,106,108,111-117 Sweden (13%), 75,77,78,99,100,102,110,118 Japan (9%), 82,91,109,119-121 South Korea 96,122-124 and the UK (6% each). 72,103,107,125 Nearly half of the studies were randomized controlled trials, 42,73,74,77,78,80,84-90,95,98,99,101,105-108,112,115,116,120,123,124,126-128 and there were slightly fewer studies involving patients (45%) 72-75,77-80,82,84-87,89,90,92,95-99,101,103,106-108,110,113,129 as opposed to healthy participants. The largest group of patients were those with cancer.…”

“…For studies of touch, the most prominent sub-type was “massage” (46 studies, 81% of touch studies), 42,72-75,77-79,81,82,84-92,95-101,105-110,113,115,116,118-124,126,127,130,131 followed by “skin-to-skin” (also known as “kangaroo care”) (5 studies, 9%), 76,80,93,103,104 “warm affective touch/holding” (5 studies, 9%) 83,102,111,112,114 and “Reiki touch” (1 study, 2%). 117…”

“…Body area: The different amounts/locations of the body being massaged, including: full body (n = 28); 42,73-75,78,79,81,82,84-87,90,91,95,97-99,106,108,110,113,116,119,120,124,126,131 back (n = 4); 89,115,118,121 back, neck and head (n = 2); 101,105 limbs (n = 3); 77,92,100 neck and shoulders (n = 1); 127 scalp (n = 1); 123 trunk (n = 1); 96 upper body and limbs (n = 3); 72,88,109 acupressure points (n = 2); 122,130 and self-selected (n = 1). 107…”

Gender Differences Regarding Novel Biomarkers and Metabolic Risk Factors in Metformin Treated Type 2 Diabetic Patients

“…The study sample was recruited from four primary health care centers in Stockholm County in a study comparing tactile massage with relaxation exercises in subjects with type 2 diabetes [8]. Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes on treatment with metformin were identified from their electronic patient records.…”

“…The sample size was based on a power calculation on the intervention with tactile massage in comparison to relaxation exercises [8]. Using HbA1c as the main outcome variable and assuming a difference of 0.5 % units in improvement between the TM and relaxation groups, as the smallest clinically relevant effect, i.e.…”