Impact of Buerger-Allen Exercises on Peripheral Circulation in Hospitalized Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Controlled Pretest–Posttest Study
F. Suganthakumari
*
Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, PSG College of Nursing, Nehru college of Nursing and Research Institute, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai, India.
Anuratha Matipol Dharmalingam
PSG College of Nursing, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: This study investigated the effectiveness of Buerger-Allen exercises on lower extremity perfusion in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, addressing the increased risk of peripheral arterial disease in this population.
Materials and Methods: A true experimental, pretest-posttest repeated measures design with a control group (n=10 per group) was employed. Twenty patients were randomized, with the experimental group performing Buerger-Allen exercises three times daily for 15 days. Lower extremity perfusion was assessed at pretest and three post-tests (days 5, 10, 15) using a self-developed scale. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and paired 't' tests.
Results: At pretest, no significant difference in perfusion was observed between groups for either leg (Right Leg: F=0.802, p=0.440; Left Leg: F=0.802, p=0.440). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant main effects for Group (F=36.424, p=0.0001*) and Assessment (F=187.284, p=0.0001*), alongside a crucial significant interaction effect between Assessment and Group (F=291.21, p=0.0001*), indicating differential changes over time between groups for both legs.
For the experimental group, significant progressive improvements in perfusion scores were observed from pretest to all post-tests for both right (e.g., Pretest vs. Post Test 3: Mean Difference=9.30, t=10.391, p=0.0001*) and left legs (e.g., Pretest vs. Post Test 3: Mean Difference=9.30, t=10.391, p=0.0001*). In contrast, the control group showed no significant changes in perfusion scores across any time points for either leg (all p > 0.05). Post-hoc tests confirmed significant between-group differences at all post-test time points for both legs (e.g., Post-test III: Mean Difference=8.900, p=0.0001*).
Conclusion: Buerger-Allen exercises significantly improved lower extremity perfusion in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with the experimental group demonstrating substantial and progressive improvements compared to the control group for both right and left legs. While promising, the small sample size (n=20) necessitates cautious interpretation and calls for further research with larger cohorts.
Keywords: Diabetes, Buerger-Allen Exercises, Lower extremity perfusion, Mellitus, paired 't' tests