title: Noninvasive characterisation of foot reflexology areas by swept source-optical coherence tomography in patients with low back pain.
abstract: Objective. When exploring the scientific basis of reflexology techniques, elucidation of the surface and subsurface features of reflexology areas (RAs) is crucial. In this study, the subcutaneous features of RAs related to the lumbar vertebrae were evaluated by swept source-optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in subjects with and without low back pain (LBP). Methods. Volunteers without LBP (n = 6 (male : female = 1 : 1)) and subjects with LBP (n = 15 (male : female = 2 : 3)) were clinically examined in terms of skin colour (visual perception), localised tenderness (visual analogue scale) and structural as well as optical attributes as per SS-OCT. From each subject, 6 optical tomograms were recorded from equidistant transverse planes along the longitudinal axis of the RAs, and from each tomogram, 25 different spatial locations were considered for recording SS-OCT image attributes. The images were analysed with respect to the optical intensity distributions and thicknesses of different skin layers by using AxioVision Rel. 4.8.2 software. The SS-OCT images could be categorised into 4 pathological grades (i.e., 0, 1, 2, and 3) according to distinctness in the visible skin layers. Results. Three specific grades for abnormalities in SS-OCT images were identified considering gradual loss of distinctness and increase in luminosity of skin layers. Almost 90.05% subjects were of mixed type having predominance in certain grades. Conclusion. The skin SS-OCT system demonstrated a definite association of the surface features of healthy/unhealthy RAs with cutaneous features and the clinical status of the lumbar vertebrae.
authors: Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110 029, India.
authors: Krishna
authors: K
authors: Dalal
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Elanchezhiyan
authors: Raunak
authors: R
authors: Das
authors: Devjyoti
authors: D
authors: Dalal
authors: Ravindra Mohan
authors: RM
authors: Pandey
authors: Subhamoy
authors: S
authors: Chatterjee
authors: Ashish Datt
authors: AD
authors: Upadhyay
authors: V Bharathi
authors: VB
authors: Maran
authors: Jyotirmoy
authors: J
authors: Chatterjee
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