Alter-G Training on Gait and Balance in Diabetic Neuropathy Patients
Condition: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
MeSH terms: Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Diabetic Neuropathies
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and associated complications became globally serious arousing
      health problems.

      Aim: To evaluate the effect of Antigravity treadmill training on gait performance and
      functional balance in patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

      Design: Single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Setting: Outpatient rehabilitation unit.
      Population: Sixty-eight eligible participants with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy were
      randomly allocated to Five groups: group-A (100% weight-bearing; n=14), group-B (70%
      weight-bearing; n=13), group-C (50% weight-bearing; n=14), group-D (30% weight-bearing;
      n=13), group-E (control group; n=14).

      Methods: Participants in study groups A, B, C, and D received moderate intensity (50-70%
      heart rate reserve) aerobic exercise training program on the antigravity treadmill (AlterG,
      Inc., Fremont, CA, USA) 3 times/week for 12-weeks. The gait performance (using the dynamic
      gait index) and the functional balance (using the Berg balance scale) variables were
      evaluated at 3-time points: baseline (evaluation-1), after 12 training weeks (evaluation-2),
      and 3 months post-training cessation (evaluation-3).
    

Detailed description: 
      Diabetic Peripheral neuropathy is the most common serious diabetes-related complication
      affecting more than one-third of patients with diabetes especially those with type 2
      diabetes. Diabetic Peripheral neuropathy is defined as the existence of clinical indicators
      of neural dysfunction after excluding other causes in patients with diabetes and is usually
      affecting the sensory nerves before the motor ones, following the distal to proximal pattern
      distribution. Type 2 diabetes-related microangiopathy, neural ischemia, and demyelination are
      the commonly encountered pathophysiological endpoints responsible for Diabetic Peripheral
      neuropathy-related neural lesions. The Diabetic Peripheral neuropathy-related proprioceptive
      inputs impairments further predispose patients to frequently disturbed static and dynamic
      balance as well as impaired gait performance. Controversy existed regarding the efficacy of
      the weight-support aerobic exercise training on the locomotion, gait, and functional
      variables in patients with Diabetic Peripheral neuropathy. Researchers initially thought that
      weight-bearing exercise training is more beneficial in improving physical function than
      non-weight-bearing exercise training in patients with Diabetic Peripheral neuropathy. Few
      studies reported non-significant functional effects of the increased weight support, while
      others reported beneficial effects of the partial weight off-loading aerobic exercise
      training on the gait, balance, and functional performance in patients with Diabetic
      Peripheral neuropathy.
    

Intervention name(s): Group- A (100% weight-bearing; n=14), (moderate-intensity (50-70% heart rate reserve) aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill, 3 times/week for 12-weeks.; Group- B (70% weight-bearing), (moderate-intensity (50-70% heart rate reserve) aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill, 3 times/week for 12-weeks.; Group- C (50% weight-bearing), (moderate-intensity (50-70% heart rate reserve) aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill, 3 times/week for 12-weeks.; Group- D (30% weight-bearing), (moderate-intensity (50-70% heart rate reserve) aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill, 3 times/week for 12-weeks.; Group- E; Control group
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill (100% weight-bearing) plus medications (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination).; Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill (70% weight-bearing) plus medications plus medications (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination); Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill (50% weight-bearing) plus medications (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination); Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill (30% weight-bearing) plus medications (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination).; Control: No aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill, but only medications (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination) throughout the study.
Other intervention name(s): Oral drug therapy (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination").; Oral drug therapy (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination").; Oral drug therapy (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination").; Oral drug therapy (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination").; Oral drug therapy (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination").
Intervention MeSH terms: Biguanides
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Diabetic neuropathy; Gait; Balance