Optical, Spectroscopic, and Doppler Evaluation of “Normal” and “Abnormal” Reflexology Areas in Lumbar Vertebral Pathology: A Case Study

Scientific validation of reflexology requires an in-depth and noninvasive evaluation of “reflexology/reflex areas” in health and disease. The present paper reports the differential properties of “normal” and “abnormal” reflexology areas related to the lumbar vertebrae in a subject suffering from low...

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Main Authors: Krishna Dalal, D. Elanchezhiyan, V. B. Maran, Raunak Kumar Das, Piyush Kumar, S. P. Singh, C. Murali Krishna, Jyotirmoy Chatterjee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/904729
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author Krishna Dalal
D. Elanchezhiyan
V. B. Maran
Raunak Kumar Das
Piyush Kumar
S. P. Singh
C. Murali Krishna
Jyotirmoy Chatterjee
author_facet Krishna Dalal
D. Elanchezhiyan
V. B. Maran
Raunak Kumar Das
Piyush Kumar
S. P. Singh
C. Murali Krishna
Jyotirmoy Chatterjee
author_sort Krishna Dalal
collection DOAJ
description Scientific validation of reflexology requires an in-depth and noninvasive evaluation of “reflexology/reflex areas” in health and disease. The present paper reports the differential properties of “normal” and “abnormal” reflexology areas related to the lumbar vertebrae in a subject suffering from low back pain. The pathology is supported by radiological evidence. The reflexology target regions were clinically assessed with respect to colour and tenderness in response to finger pressure. Grey scale luminosity and pain intensity, as assessed by visual analogue scale scores, differentiated “normal” from “abnormal” skin. Skin swept source-optical coherence tomography recorded their structural differences. Infrared thermography revealed temperature variations. A laser Doppler study using a combined microcirculation and transcutaneous oxygen monitoring system indicated alterations in blood flow and oxygen perfusion. Raman spectroscopy showed differences in chemical signatures between these areas. The present findings may indicate a potential correlation between the reflexology areas and subsurface pathological changes, showing an association with the healthy or unhealthy status of the lumbar vertebrae.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1687-9627
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language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series Case Reports in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-3eecd0e9482e45bc8ac8954f6c1d578a2025-08-20T03:35:54ZengWileyCase Reports in Medicine1687-96271687-96352012-01-01201210.1155/2012/904729904729Optical, Spectroscopic, and Doppler Evaluation of “Normal” and “Abnormal” Reflexology Areas in Lumbar Vertebral Pathology: A Case StudyKrishna Dalal0D. Elanchezhiyan1V. B. Maran2Raunak Kumar Das3Piyush Kumar4S. P. Singh5C. Murali Krishna6Jyotirmoy Chatterjee7Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansarinagar, New Delhi 110 029, IndiaDepartment of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansarinagar, New Delhi 110 029, IndiaDepartment of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansarinagar, New Delhi 110 029, IndiaSchool of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, West Bengal, Kharagpur 721 302, IndiaChilakapati Laboratory, ACTREC, Tata Memorial Center, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, IndiaChilakapati Laboratory, ACTREC, Tata Memorial Center, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, IndiaChilakapati Laboratory, ACTREC, Tata Memorial Center, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, IndiaSchool of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, West Bengal, Kharagpur 721 302, IndiaScientific validation of reflexology requires an in-depth and noninvasive evaluation of “reflexology/reflex areas” in health and disease. The present paper reports the differential properties of “normal” and “abnormal” reflexology areas related to the lumbar vertebrae in a subject suffering from low back pain. The pathology is supported by radiological evidence. The reflexology target regions were clinically assessed with respect to colour and tenderness in response to finger pressure. Grey scale luminosity and pain intensity, as assessed by visual analogue scale scores, differentiated “normal” from “abnormal” skin. Skin swept source-optical coherence tomography recorded their structural differences. Infrared thermography revealed temperature variations. A laser Doppler study using a combined microcirculation and transcutaneous oxygen monitoring system indicated alterations in blood flow and oxygen perfusion. Raman spectroscopy showed differences in chemical signatures between these areas. The present findings may indicate a potential correlation between the reflexology areas and subsurface pathological changes, showing an association with the healthy or unhealthy status of the lumbar vertebrae.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/904729
spellingShingle Krishna Dalal
D. Elanchezhiyan
V. B. Maran
Raunak Kumar Das
Piyush Kumar
S. P. Singh
C. Murali Krishna
Jyotirmoy Chatterjee
Optical, Spectroscopic, and Doppler Evaluation of “Normal” and “Abnormal” Reflexology Areas in Lumbar Vertebral Pathology: A Case Study
Case Reports in Medicine
title Optical, Spectroscopic, and Doppler Evaluation of “Normal” and “Abnormal” Reflexology Areas in Lumbar Vertebral Pathology: A Case Study
title_full Optical, Spectroscopic, and Doppler Evaluation of “Normal” and “Abnormal” Reflexology Areas in Lumbar Vertebral Pathology: A Case Study
title_fullStr Optical, Spectroscopic, and Doppler Evaluation of “Normal” and “Abnormal” Reflexology Areas in Lumbar Vertebral Pathology: A Case Study
title_full_unstemmed Optical, Spectroscopic, and Doppler Evaluation of “Normal” and “Abnormal” Reflexology Areas in Lumbar Vertebral Pathology: A Case Study
title_short Optical, Spectroscopic, and Doppler Evaluation of “Normal” and “Abnormal” Reflexology Areas in Lumbar Vertebral Pathology: A Case Study
title_sort optical spectroscopic and doppler evaluation of normal and abnormal reflexology areas in lumbar vertebral pathology a case study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/904729
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