Differential Air Pressure Technology for Treatment of Diabetic Elderly Patients
Condition: Diabetic Polyneuropathy
MeSH terms: Polyneuropathies; Diabetic Neuropathies
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Aging can be defined as sequential deterioration that occurs in elderly people including
      weakness, loss of mobility, decline of physical capabilities, increase susceptibility to
      disease and many other age-related physiological changes .The beginning of old age in most
      developed countries is about 60 or 65 years old. Diabetes mellitus (DM) and most commonly
      type 2 DM is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases affecting old people in
      Saudi Arabia which might be resulted from decline in physical activities. Polyneuropathy (PN)
      and its serious consequences represent the most common complication in diabetic mellitus
      which could contribute to an increased gait abnormality and risk of falling.
    

Detailed description: 
      Disability and reduction of quality of life are the largest costs of diabetes and its
      complications. So taking active intervention to reduce the risk of falls, improve gait
      performance and improve the quality of life in elderly with DPN is very important. Lower
      extremity aerobic exercise training via treadmill aiming for improving patients' physical
      activity levels is an important part in the rehabilitation program to enhance balance and
      walking functions and reducing the fall risk, .Treadmill training using s low-load walking
      provided by an emerging technology called lower body positive pressure (LBPP) that
      effectively reduces body weight could be preferable than other methods of unweighting
      treadmill because the air pressure is applied uniformly over the lower body. This kind of
      anti-gravity treadmill is ideal in reducing the formation of pain and pressure points that
      are common with harness-based unweighting systems. Many other advantages are also associated
      with this unique type of antigravity technology that could give it the superiority than the
      other types of unweighting treadmills in enhancing walking performance, reducing the risk of
      fall and improving quality of life in Saudi elderly people with DPN.
    

Intervention name(s): Antigravity treadmill training 100% weight bearing; Antigravity treadmill training 75% weight bearing; Antigravity treadmill training 50% weight bearing; Antigravity treadmill training 25% weight bearing; The conventional exercise program
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): This group received antigravity treadmill training 100% weight bearing and conventional exercise program.; This group received antigravity treadmill training 75% weight bearing and conventional exercise program.; This group received antigravity treadmill training 50% weight bearing and conventional exercise program.; This group received antigravity treadmill training 25% weight bearing and conventional exercise program.; This group received the conventional exercise program only.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment