Effects of far-infrared therapy on foot circulation among the hemodialysis patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

• Main Authors: WANG, YU-HUNG, 王玉虹
• Other Authors: Chang, Yuanmay
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/fu42am

碩士 === 馬偕醫學院 === 長期照護研究所 === 106 === To apply far infrared therapy to improve the foot blood circulation in diabetic hemodialysis patients. In this quasi-experimental design study, 63 diabetic hemodialysis patients were recruited from a hemodialysis center in northern Taiwan. The experimental group (n = 32) was received from far-infrared therapy on bilateral dorsalis pedis artery from the skin height of 25 cm, each time 40 minutes, 3 times a week, for six months. The control group (n = 31) maintained the original dialysis care. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0, included frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, paired-t test, independent t- test, and ANCOVA. Results revealed (1) objective effect: both feet temperature, pulse and blood flow of dorsalis pedis artery, the experimental group significantly improved compared with the control group. (2) subjective effects: The experimental group reduced fatigue by 40.6%, pain by 25% and cold by 28.2% and significanted. (3) nerve function: only experimental group right foot pain, touch, pressure sense improved significantly, showed the far-infrared therapy takes a long time to recover nerve function. The thermal effect of far-infrared therapy is helpful to improve foot blood circulation in diabetic hemodialysis patients. Future research suggests that the duration of treatment, exercise or drug-related factors and may further investigate the non-thermal effects of far-infrared.