Diabetes is quite common in the modern world. Besides, it affects younger people these days. Diabetes’ guile is in its ability to afflict internal organs, joints, vessels, and every body system. In addition, they are the primary cause of foot disorders.
Proper treatment means not only taking medicines to normalize insulin production. It is also about specific manual procedures, which include massage.
Massage is not only allowed but also crucial to remove painful symptoms peculiar to pancreatic diseases. Patient’s feet require special attention since they are at stake more often. The main indications for massage are the following symptoms:
- Frequent foot pain, tension, and stiffness.
- Blood stagnation because of sedentary lifestyles.
- Bad metabolism.
- Swelling and decrease in foot sensitivity.
- Nerve endings atrophy.
- Dry and leathery foot skin.
Proper massage allows normalizing blood flow, lymph, removing restless legs syndrome, accelerating metabolism, and rapid tissue regrowth.
There are some contraindications on massage:
- Gangrenous hearths and trophic ulcers.
- Emerging tissue necrosis.
- Endocrine disorders.
- Worsening that is caused by the course of the disease.
The patent should be careful when choosing massage while having varicose veins. That’s why only the attending physician should decide whether the massage will be good for you.
Massage Techniques for Those with Diabetes
While diagnosing diabetes, the following procedures are usually prescribed:
- Local massage of calf muscles to remove pain.
- Manual massage of limbs, including tibia, feet, and calves.
- Point contact with feet to prevent diabetic arches.
- Impulse brief contact to normalize blood flow.
Procedures may be manual or imply various tools like vibration and massage mats, hydromassage equipment, etc.
Massage in Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes means skin preparation. For that purpose, it treats with talc or special oil that provides good sliding on the skin. Different types of moves are applied, including kneading and strokes. Massage should be postponed until the elimination of such contraindications as swelling, skin rasps, or ulcers.
Massage in Type 2 diabetes starts from relaxing treatments like a foot bath with sea salt or herbal remedy. Then, it’s necessary to dry feet and massage them in a patient’s seating position. This massage implies strokes, rubbing, kneading, tapping with palms, fingers, or fist, and slight smacking.
The set of sports activities for the feet is an excellent addition to a massage for more effective care.