The PI resigned and the recruitment had not been started.

The purpose of this study is to characterize the changes in peripheral nerve functions (sensory and motor) in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and examine the relations between the changes in nerve functions and changes in pain and mobility using focal vibration.

Peripheral nerve impairments are highly prevalent in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and are associated with pain and poor mobility. While peripheral sensorimotor nerve function is implicated in neuropathy, the mechanism associated with both pain and mobility is not well understood. Even less understood is the interplay between, and responses to, sensory and motor fibers of the affected peripheral nerve. In our previous study, focal vibration (FV) was effective in reducing pain and improving mobility for only a subgroup of participants with DPN. Because FV stimulates both motor and sensory peripheral nerve fibers, when combined with nerve conduction testing, it offers a unique opportunity to study both the sensory and motor peripheral nerve performance and their contribution to pain and mobility in patients with DPN. We are proposing a single group, repeated measured study to: characterize the changes in sensory and motor peripheral nerve functions; examine the association(s) between these changes and changes in pain and mobility, using FV. If successful, this study will provide us with a better understanding of the role played by sensory and motor nerve impairments in pain and mobility for DPN, and support larger clinical studies to optimize nerve function performance and the FV parameters. We will also explore how changes in the peripheral nerve function associate with severity of DPN.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of diabetes for at least one year;
• Diabetic peripheral neuropathy as defined by failure to sense the 5.07 (10g) monofilament test in one or more of the six sites tested;
• Age 45-80 years old;
• Able to ambulate independently without assistive devices (e.g., walker or crutches) for 30 feet;
• No evidence of neurological (other than peripheral neuropathy) or orthopedic conditions;
• Able to understand English instructions;
• Have normal or corrected vision.

Exclusion Criteria:

• With other non-diabetic causes of neuropathy by history;
• Symptomatic peripheral vascular disease, joint pain, swelling and/or limited range of motion in the lower extremities that interfere with walking;
• Other systemic or local diseases that could interfere with walking assessment
• Amputation in the lower extremities;
• Clinically diagnosed with dementia greater than mild (screened using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) <24)

The de-identified data might be shared with permission from the funder and PI per request.

After completion of the 6 weeks study

Only de-identified data will be shared with permission from the funder and PI per request