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Influence of Physical Therapy for Foot and Ankle in the Gait of Individuals With Diabetic Neuropathy

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Diabetic Neuropathy With Loss of Sensation
Foot and Ankle Muscle Weakness
Foot and Ankle Range of Movement Restriction
Interventions
Other: Physical Therapy
Registration Number
NCT01207284
Lead Sponsor
University of Sao Paulo General Hospital
Brief Summary

The hypothesis is that a physical therapy intervention for foot and ankle of diabetic neuropathic individuals would affect positively the way they walk, lowering the harmful forces that these segments receive, that are associated mainly with lower range of movement, muscle weakness and loss of sensation. The participants will be randomly assigned into control group (regular treatment prescribed by their medical group) or into treatment group, that will receive 12 weeks of physical therapy intervention, twice a week, for 45 minutes each session. This will aim for increasing foot and ankle range of movement, muscle strength and improving sensory inputs.

Detailed Description

In this study, were included subjects diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy, aged between 45 and 65 years old. We aimed to assess the effect of a physical therapy program on biomechanics of lower limbs during gait.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
55
Inclusion Criteria
  • diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2 diagnosed for at least seven years
  • body mass index ranging 18.5-29.9 kg/m2 (normal and overweight classifications)
  • diabetic polyneuropathy diagnosed by the medical care center: score higher than 2 out of 13 in the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) questionnaire, indicating the presence of at least two diabetic polyneuropathy symptoms; score higher than 1 out of 10 for physical assessment of the MNSI instrument, but always including impaired vibration perception
  • ability to walk independently in the laboratory
Exclusion Criteria
  • ulceration not healed for at least 6 months
  • partial or total foot amputation
  • receiving any physiotherapy intervention or offloading devices
  • neurological or orthopedic impairments
  • major vascular complications
  • severe retinopathy
  • severe nephropathy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Physical TherapyPhysical TherapyFoot and ankle passive and active stretching, muscle strengthening, proprioception training and gait training.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Peak pressure at lateral forefoot12 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Peak pressure24 weeks

In foot areas: heel, midfoot, medial forefoot, lateral forefoot, hallux and toes.

Sagittal peak of extensor moment of ankle24 weeks
Sagittal peak of flexor moment of ankle24 weeks
Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument score for symptoms24 weeks
Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument score for physical assessment24 weeks
Time-to-peak pressure24 weeks

In 6 foot areas: heel, midfoot, lateral forefoot, medial forefoot, hallux and toes.

Pressure-time integral24 weeks

In 6 foot areas: heel, midfoot, lateral forefoot, medial forefoot, hallux and toes.

Mean velocity of center of pressure displacement12 weeks

In 7 foot areas: heel, midfoot, lateral forefoot, medial forefoot, hallux, toes and total area.

Mean velocity of center or pressure displacement24 weeks

In 7 foot areas: heel, midfoot, lateral forefoot, medial forefoot, hallux, toes and total area.

Sagittal range of motion of ankle24 weeks
Functional tests score24 weeks
Muscle function score24 weeks
Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC)24 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Speech, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy

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Sao Paulo, Brazil

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