Do diabetic neuropathy patients benefit from balance training?

Abstract

Abstract-Peripheral neuropathy is a common complaint of diabetes. Peripheral neural damage in turn will cause balance impairments in diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of balance exercises on sway indices in diabetic patients with neuropathy. In this clinical trial study, 10 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy were recruited through simple nonprobability sampling along with 10 nondisabled aged-matched subjects. Participants in both groups were examined for balance abilities with the Biodex Balance System before intervention. The experimental group was tested again after intervention. Intervention consisted of progressive Biodex stability and rocker and wobble-board training for 10 sessions. All tests were done in eyes open and closed conditions with bilateral standing. After intervention, the experimental group was re-examined in the same way. Student and paired t-tests were used for data analysis. The overall stability index and anterior-posterior stability index were significantly decreased after treatment in the experimental group during different conditions. Balance indices in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group before treatment. There was no significant difference in indices between the two groups after treatment. The results show that balance training can improve stability indices in diabetic patients with neuropathy.

Effect of balance training with Biodex Stability System on balance in diabetic neuropathy

“…Bulat and colleagues observed that a balance training class was safe and effective in improving balance outcomes in a cohort of elderly veterans at risk for falls with significant increase in berg balance score [Bulat et al 2007]. The usefulness of balance training with BBS in improving postural stability and balance is welldemonstrated in previous studies in elderly people, especially those with neuropathy, diabetes and DN [Akbari et al 2006[Akbari et al , 2012Salsabili et al 2011]. Similarly, Morrison and colleagues showed that, following training, the diabetic group exhibited a significant decline in falls risk [Morrison et al 2010].…”

Declining Skeletal Muscle Function in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

“…109 Overall, these exercise programs have been 8–10 weeks in duration, 60 minutes per session, 1–3 times per week. 108–110 Significant post-intervention effects in reaction time, static and dynamic balance have been reported. 108–110 Most recently, exercises using real-time feedback have demonstrated promising results in individuals with DPN.…”

Balance training in the intervention of fall risk in elderly with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A review

“…Vestibular function training in elderly with DPN, could make a correct understanding of sensory signals into the brain quickly and make the right judgment motion response by sensory reorganization, and enhance balance function, thus reducing the risk of falling. Akbari et al [29] had treated 20 patients with DPN whose average age was 56 years with vestibular training exercise, such as rotational movement, posture reactive movement, after 20 weeks, the overall ability to stabilize, ability to stabilize before and around of the patients were significantly increased. Chang et al [30] have treated 19 elderly with DPN whose average age was 73 years with eight weeks of low intensity sense of place, a sense of distance training experience and other vestibular function, the results showed that the intervention group dynamic and static balance were significantly improved.…”