A focused exercise regimen improves clinical measures of balance in patients with peripheral neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of a specific exercise regimen on clinical measures of postural stability and confidence in a population with peripheral neuropathy (PN).


METHODS
Prospective, controlled, single blind study.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic of a university hospital.


METHODS
Twenty subjects with diabetes mellitus and electrodiagnostically confirmed PN.


METHODS
Ten subjects underwent a 3-week intervention exercise regimen designed to increase rapidly available distal strength and balance. The other 10 subjects performed a control exercise regimen.


METHODS
Unipedal stance time, functional reach, tandem stance time, and score on the activities-specific balance and confidence (ABC) scale.


RESULTS
The intervention subjects, but not the control subjects, showed significant improvement in all 3 clinical measures of balance and nonsignificant improvement on the ABC scale.


CONCLUSIONS
A brief, specific exercise regimen improved clinical measures of balance in patients with diabetic PN. Further studies are needed to determine if this result translates into a lower fall frequency in this high-risk population.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0718, USA. jkrich@umich.edu
J K
JK
Richardson
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D
Sandman
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S
Vela
D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome