Effects of Vibration Therapy in Addition to Routine Physical Therapy in Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy

Effects of Vibration Therapy in Addition to Routine Physical Therapy on Pain, Balance, Functional Disability and Satisfaction in Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy

The study is aimed to determine the effects of sole-foot vibration therapy on pain intensity, static and dynamic balance, functional status and satisfaction to the intervention applied on patients with peripheral neuropathy due to type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy has disastrous effects on human body. It causes impairment which makes normal functioning and activity of daily life difficult. Vibration therapy improves neural mechano-sensitivity to promote movement and function.

In Pakistan, researches have been conducted only on Whole-body vibration and no data is available on foot-sole vibration therapy which is convenient to apply and appropriate for patients as there will be no fear of fall associated during treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the effects of vibration therapy, applied locally on foot, on pain management, balance adjustment, function and satisfaction to treatment in patients with diabetic neuropathy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age of 40-75 years
• Both male and female participants
• On oral medicine for diabetes
• HbA1C <8.5%, and controlled blood sugar in the last three months
• Patients with < 6 years from diagnosis of diabetes
• Diagnosed patient of peripheral neuropathy having type 2 diabetes by registered medical practitioner
• Patient is able to stand on both feet.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Systemic diseases such as advanced cardiovascular, renal, or hepatic diseases
• Open wounds/ulcers on lower limb
• Neurological illness that affects balance i.e. vertebral artery syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Stroke and cerebral ataxia
• Musculoskeletal problems such as leg length discrepancy, ankle sprain and severe osteoarthritis of knee and hip joints
• Patients who have performed vibration therapy exercises prior to intervention
• Patient under any antihypertensive drugs and blood pressure more than 160/95 mm hg