Type 2 Diabetes - The Effect Of Massage On Blood Sugar Levels In Children With Diabetes
According to researchers in Iran, a new kind of therapy could be a help to children with diabetes.
Investigators at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences in Tehran looked at Swedish massage for helping to manage blood sugar levels.
Swedish massage is a system of five strokes:
It is also known as "classic massage".
The study, published in September of this year in the journal Acta Medicine Iran, included 36 children, ages 6 to 12, all diagnosed with diabetes.
It was therefore concluded that adding Swedish massage to exercise, diet and medication regimens could be an effective way of reducing blood sugar levels in diabetic children.
How could massage lower blood sugar levels? Stress is known to aggravate diabetes, so the stress-relieving qualities of the massages could have helped lower blood sugar levels by lowering the stress hormone, cortisol.
Cortisol is known to increase blood sugar levels as part of the fight or flight response.
Or could massaging muscles increase their ability to take in sugar and use it for energy? More research will likely yield the answers.
In the mean time, the study provides us with one more possible tool for controlling diabetes in children.
Perhaps studies on adult patients could be performed to discover whether massage could help adult diabetes patients as well.
Peter Henry Ling is credited with the invention of Swedish massage and established the Royal Central Gymnastic Institute in 1813 in Stockholm.
He called his method "Swedish Manual Therapy".
The method became popular throughout Europe and the United States during the 19th century.
Dr.
Kellogg, of corn flakes fame, included a "Swedish room" in his health spa and helped to popularize massage along with exercise.
Earlier practice of massage goes back to ancient times, probably developing from the natural instinct to rub a painful body part.
The Bible describes anointing and rubbing the skin with oil, and ancient Greek, Roman, and Chinese civilizations all practiced some form of massage.
During Medieval times many "witches" were burned for their practice of herbal treatments and massages.
Fortunately, today massage therapists can be found at most spas and gymnasiums.
Investigators at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences in Tehran looked at Swedish massage for helping to manage blood sugar levels.
Swedish massage is a system of five strokes:
- sliding or gliding,
- kneading motions,
- rhythmic tapping,
- cross fiber motions, and
- vibrations.
It is also known as "classic massage".
The study, published in September of this year in the journal Acta Medicine Iran, included 36 children, ages 6 to 12, all diagnosed with diabetes.
- those in a treatment group received Swedish massage for 15 minutes 3 times per week
- others received only the usual care.
It was therefore concluded that adding Swedish massage to exercise, diet and medication regimens could be an effective way of reducing blood sugar levels in diabetic children.
How could massage lower blood sugar levels? Stress is known to aggravate diabetes, so the stress-relieving qualities of the massages could have helped lower blood sugar levels by lowering the stress hormone, cortisol.
Cortisol is known to increase blood sugar levels as part of the fight or flight response.
Or could massaging muscles increase their ability to take in sugar and use it for energy? More research will likely yield the answers.
In the mean time, the study provides us with one more possible tool for controlling diabetes in children.
Perhaps studies on adult patients could be performed to discover whether massage could help adult diabetes patients as well.
Peter Henry Ling is credited with the invention of Swedish massage and established the Royal Central Gymnastic Institute in 1813 in Stockholm.
He called his method "Swedish Manual Therapy".
The method became popular throughout Europe and the United States during the 19th century.
Dr.
Kellogg, of corn flakes fame, included a "Swedish room" in his health spa and helped to popularize massage along with exercise.
Earlier practice of massage goes back to ancient times, probably developing from the natural instinct to rub a painful body part.
The Bible describes anointing and rubbing the skin with oil, and ancient Greek, Roman, and Chinese civilizations all practiced some form of massage.
During Medieval times many "witches" were burned for their practice of herbal treatments and massages.
Fortunately, today massage therapists can be found at most spas and gymnasiums.
