The Effects of Passive Vibration in Patients With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

The Effects of Passive Vibration in Patients With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of passive vibration (PV) in improving balance and sensation in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

The study involves the following:

• Visit 1:
• Particpant's age, height, gender, and weight will be collected.
• Participant will fill out a questionnaire to assess participant's nerve function. This process will take approximately 2.5 minutes.
• Investigator will measure participant's balance, sensation, and skin blood flow (SBF).
• After completing the tests, participant will be randomly assigned by the computer to either the treatment group or control group.
• The treatment group will receive a passive vibration treatment for 15 minutes twice a week for 4 weeks.
• The control group will not receive any treatment and they will continue their usual lifestyle.
• Visit 2 through 8:
• The treatment group will receive a passive vibration for 15 minutes followed by SBF measurement.
• The control group will continue their usual lifestyle.
• In the fifth session, the treatment and control groups will come back for tests.
• Visit 9 (follow-up):

Inclusion Criteria:

• A diagnosis of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
• Minimum age 40 years
• Maximum Age 75 years
• Ability to stand for a minimum of five minutes

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neurological Disorders
• Bleeding Disorders
• Leg Ulcers
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Complete absence of sensation in lower extremities (i.e. 6.65 in monofilament test)
• Self-reported pregnancy