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Effectiveness of Buerger Allen Exercise as an Adjunct to Standard Pharmacotherapy in Reducing Peripheral Neuropathy
Suganthakumari Francis1, Anuratha Matipol Dharmalingam2
1PhD(N) Research Scholar, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nehru College of Nursing and Research Institute (Affiliated to The Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Background:
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) with limited response to pharmacotherapy alone. Adjunct non-pharmacological interventions may enhance treatment outcomes.
Aim:
To evaluate the effectiveness of Buerger Allen Exercise as an adjunct to standard pharmacotherapy in reducing peripheral neuropathy symptoms among patients with T2DM.
Materials And Methods:
A pilot randomized controlled study with a pretest-posttest repeated measures design was conducted among 20 patients with T2DM and DPN. Participants were randomly allocated into experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups using a lottery method. Both groups received standard pharmacotherapy, while the experimental group additionally performed Buerger Allen Exercise for 15 days. Neuropathy symptoms were assessed at baseline, day 5, day 10, and day 15 using a structured neuropathy assessment scale. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and t-tests.
Results:
The experimental group showed a statistically significant reduction in neuropathy scores compared to the control group (P < 0.05). A significant time-group interaction was observed, indicating progressive improvement with intervention.
Conclusion:
Buerger Allen Exercise is an effective short-term adjunct therapy in reducing symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Larger studies are required to confirm long-term benefits.