Effect of Foot Reflexology on Muscle Electrical Activity, Pressure, Plantar Distribution, and Body Sway in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To verify the effect of foot reflexology on the electrical muscle activity of the lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscle, and to examine the distribution, plantar pressure, and body sway in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: This pilot randomized controlled trial enrolled 17 volunteers who were clinically diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The sample was assigned to one of two groups: the control group (CG, n = 7), who received information on foot care and health, and the intervention group (IG, n = 10), who received the application of foot reflexology on specific areas of the feet, for 10 consecutive days. There was blinding of the evaluator and the therapist. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to assess the electrical activity of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles in maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and isotonic contraction (IC); baropodometry and stabilometry were used to analyze unloading, plantar weight distribution, and body sway. Results: There was a statistically significant difference for the variables of maximum peak electrical activity of the left medial gastrocnemius (p = 0.03; effect size = 0.87 and power = 0.81) and left lateral gastrocnemius muscles (p = 0.04, effect size = 0.70 and power = 0.66) respectively, in the intragroup IC, and median frequency of the left medial gastrocnemius muscle in the intragroup MVIC (p = 0.03; effect size = 0.64 and power = 0.59), and in the variables intergroups of the total area on the right side (p = 0.04; effect size = 1.03 and power = 0.50) and forefoot area on the left side (p = 0.02; effect size = 0.51 and power = 0.16). Conclusions: We conclude that foot reflexology influenced some variables of the intergroup plantar distribution and intragroup EMG in the sample studied. There is a need for a placebo group, a larger sample and a follow-up to strengthen the findings of these experiments

Is There a Relation between Brain and Muscle Activity after Virtual Reality Training in Individuals with Stroke? A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective—The aim was to verify the correlation between cerebral and muscular electrical activity in subjects trained in virtual reality after a stroke. Method—The trial design was a cross-sectional study. Fourteen volunteers who were diagnosed with a stroke participated in the study. The intervention protocol was to perform functional activity with an upper limb using virtual reality. The functional protocol consisted of four one-minute series with a two-minute interval between series in a single session. Results—We observed, at initial rest, a positive correlation between brachii biceps and the frontal canal medial region (F7/F8) (r = 0.59; p = 0.03) and frontal canal lateral region (F3/F4) (r = 0.71; p = 0.006). During the activity, we observed a positive correlation between the anterior deltoid and frontal anterior channel (AF3/AF4) (r = 0.73; p = 0.004). At final rest, we observed a positive correlation between the anterior deltoid and temporal region channel (T7/T8) (r = 0.70; p = 0.005). Conclusions—We conclude that there was no correlation between brain and muscle activity for the biceps brachii muscle in subjects trained with virtual reality. However, there was a positive correlation for the deltoid anterior muscle

The effect of photobiomodulation auriculotherapy in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders: A double-blind randomized feasibility study

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are considered the most common complaint associaetd with orofacial pain. A treatment approach for TMD is photobiomodulation auriculotherapy, however, a method that which still requires studies mainly with pulsed frequency. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomized clinical trial using pulsed frequency photobiomodulation auriculotherapy and determine the relevant sample size. Methods: The study was a controlled randomized pilot study. Twenty one volunteers with TMD were randomized into experimental and placebo groups. The evaluation periods were pre-intervention and again after four weeks. The instruments used for the assessment were axis I (mandibular movement measurements [MMM]) and axis II (Graded Chronic Pain Scale [GCPS], Jaw Functional Limitation Scale [JFLS-8], The Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-4], and Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD-7]) from Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). Mann–Whitney and Wilcoxon tests were used for comparison of groups. The intervention protocol was performed once a week for foour weeks. Results: The GCPS question about “pain at this exact moment” indicated lower values for the treated group compared to the placebo group (U = 15.50; p = 0.005) after the intervention. The calculation of the total sample was 22 volunteers. The JFLS-8 variable showed no difference between the groups and the sample calculation ranged from 39 to 281 volunteers. The MMM showed no difference between the groups, and the calculation of the necessary sample ranged from 27 to 2.317. The variable PHQ-4 (U = 21.00; p = 0.02) and GAD-7 (U = 20.00; p = 0.02) showed differences between groups with type I error. The required sample was 22 volunteers for PHQ-4 and 25 for GAD-7. Conclusion: We conclude that this study is feasible and that the required sample should be 11 volunteers for each group in the GCPS subitem “pain intensity at this exact moment”. We were able to find results for this GCPS subitem. However, for other variables we need 25 volunteers for GAD7 and 22 volunteers for PHQ-4. Other variables, such as JFLS-8 and MMM, made it impossible to conduct these scales for future studies

Aquatic Exercise on Brain Activity in Type 2 Diabetic: Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: A water-based physical exercise program is extremely important for the rehabilitation of type 2 diabetes. Little is known about its action on cerebral electrical activity. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a water-based physical exercise protocol on electroencephalographic activity, blood glucose levels, and functional capacity, as well as their correlation, in type 2 diabetics. Methods: Study design: Randomized Clinical Trial. Forty volunteers were randomized into two groups: control (n = 20) and study (n = 20). A water-based physical exercise program comprising 50 min sessions was conducted three times a week for five weeks. Assessments were performed at the pre- and post-intervention and follow-up phases. The qualitative data were compared using the Mann–Whitney test and Chi-Square. Quantitative data were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis, Independent t, and ANOVA mixed tests. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to correlate the data. Results: The data were similar when comparing the groups. Six-minute walk test data increased in the comparison between times (p = 0.01—PrexPos). EEG data decreased in comparison between times (prexfollow-up—p < 0.05), except AF3. EEG data decreased in the timexgroup comparison (prexfollow-up and postxfollow-up—p < 0.05). Conclusions: The water-based exercise protocol maintained electroencephalographic activity, glucose levels, and functional capacity in people with type 2 diabetes, and there was no relationship between brain electrical activity and capillary blood glucose

Effect of Systemic and Auricular Acupuncture with a 2/100 Hz Frequency and Nogier Frequency in Fibromyalgia: a Randomized Clinical Trial, Pilot Study

Background : Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of chronic, generalized muscular pain, accompanied by sleep disturbances, fatigue and cardic autonomic dysfunction that will affect the quality of life. There is currently no gold standard treatment. There are limitations of studies with electroacupuncture in auricular acupuncture. Objectives: We evaluate the effects of systemic electroacupuncture (EA) with frequencies of 2/100 Hz associated of auricular acupuncture with a Nogier frequency (2.28, 4.56 and 9.12 Hz) for pain intensity, heart rate variability (HRV), and quality of life in fibromyalgia. Methods : Randomized clinical trial, a pilot study. Eighteen volunteers were randomized into a control group (CG, n = 9) and an experimental group (EG, n = 9). Six systemic EA sessions systemic and auricular were applied in the EG for 20 min, twice a week, for six weeks consecutive. The Numerical Pain Assessment Scale (NPRS), 2010 diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (FDC 2010), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and analysis of HRV were the instruments used. The independent t-test compared to the groups was applied. Results : There was no statistically significant difference for the primary outcome for NPRS (p > 0.05). In the secondary outcome there was a significant difference in the total score and in some FIQ domains (p = 0.008) and some variables such as pain (p = 0.02) and anxiety (p = 0.006). There was no significant difference for the FDC 2010 and HRV variables (p > 0.05). Conclusion : 2/100 Hz systemic EA associated with the Nogier frequency positively influenced some quality of life variables; however, pain intensity, diagnostic criteria, and HRV variables did not change