Development, Validation and Feasibility Testing of a Hip and Ankle Strategy based Somatosensory Training Protocol in Individuals with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

The study will be conducted in tertiary care Superspeciality hospital in 3 phases; development of protocol, its content validation and feasibility testing. In first phase, based on the literature showing positive effects in improving somatosensory functions and balance, a structured exercise protocol will be developed which incorporates closed chain hip and ankle exercises and somatosensory exercises.  In second phases, content validity of exercise protocol was measured and items will be eliminated or revised if score is less after expert’s evaluations. Total 30 participants will be recruited in third phase i.e. feasibility trial by Criterion-Based Purposive sampling method. After signing the consent form, participants will be assessed at baseline, after 2 week, 4 week and 6 week by selected outcome measures. Experimental group receives newly developed hip and ankle strategy-based somatosensory training protocol and conventional group receives hip strengthening exercises, ankle strengthening exercises, and weight bearing activities on unstable surface. Normality will be assessed by Shapiro-wilk test. If p-value is less than 0.05, indicates data is not normally distributed and p-value more than 0.05 indicates data is normally distributed. If the data is distributed normally, parametric tests will be used for within group analysis, between group analysis, and repeated measure analysis. If the data is not normally distributed, non-parametric test will be used. P-value less than 0.05 indicate significant results and more than 0.05 indicate statistical significant results.