Effects of Massage Therapy and Muscle Relaxation on Glycosylated Hemoglobin in Diabetic Children.

Introduction: From the time of recognition of diabetes mellitus to now, different management methods have been recommended. the major medical care are insulin together with diet and exercise. Despite this regular management, many complementary interventions had been used that could imply massage therapy and progressive muscle relaxation, both are the special nursing tech- niques.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the effects of massage therapy and progressive muscle relaxation therapy on the glycosylated hemoglobin level in diabetic children registered in Metabolism and Endocrinology Center of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

Materials and Methods: In a quasi experimental study 75 diabetic children participated in three groups (the massage group, the progressive muscle relaxation group and the control group). Glycosy- lated hemoglobin measured at the beginning of the study and also at the end of the study in all subjects. The groups were matched for gender and age. Other confounding factors such as educational level and job of the parents, insulin dosage and duration of diabetes were controlled during the process of data management. Descriptive inferential statistic methods (mean, SD, paired T test and variance) were used for Data analysis by using SPSS package. P value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Finding showed no significant difference for duration of diabetes. Also the average intake of insulin was not different between the groups. Massage therapy and progressive muscle relaxation were associated with significant decreases in HbA1C compared with the control group. The massage group demonstrated more decrease in HbA1C level than the other.. In the intervention groups there was significant relationship between the decrease of HbA1C level and the pre intervention HbA1C level.

Discussion: Results showed that both techniques are effective to decrease blood glucose level in diabetic children. So these techniques could be recommended to diabetic children and their parents for optimal long term improvement in HbA1C .Further research is necessary to determine the long term effects of these techniques.