Physical therapy in diabetic foot ulcer: Research progress and clinical application

Abstract

Diabetes foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most intractable complications of diabetes and is related to a number of risk factors. DFU therapy is difficult and involves long‐term interdisciplinary collaboration, causing patients physical and emotional pain and increasing medical costs. With a rising number of diabetes patients, it is vital to figure out the causes and treatment techniques of DFU in a precise and complete manner, which will assist alleviate patients' suffering and decrease excessive medical expenditure. Here, we summarised the characteristics and progress of the physical therapy methods for the DFU, emphasised the important role of appropriate exercise and nutritional supplementation in the treatment of DFU, and discussed the application prospects of non‐traditional physical therapy such as electrical stimulation (ES), and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in the treatment of DFU based on clinical experimental records in ClinicalTrials.gov.

The incidence of lower extremity amputation and its associated risk factors in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A meta‐analysis

“…Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic disease, affects nearly 19% of the world's population. 1 According to projections by the International Diabetes Federation, the global diabetic population is expected to increase to 590 million by the year 2035. 2 Prolonged high blood sugar levels associated with DM can lead to immune deficiencies, particularly impairing white blood cell function.…”

“…Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic disease, affects nearly 19% of the world's population 1 . According to projections by the International Diabetes Federation, the global diabetic population is expected to increase to 590 million by the year 2035 2 .…”