Effect of proprioception training and backward walking training among diabetic neuropathy patients.

Aim: The aim of this study is to find the effect of proprioception exercise and backward walking training among diabetic neuropathy patients. Background of the Study: The physical activity is the key element in prevention and management of diabetes mellitus. Physiotherapy intervention, such as aerobic exercise, resisted exercise, and endurance exercise lower blood glucose level, among diabetes mellitus patients. The background of the study is to find the effectiveness of proprioception training and backward walking training among diabetic neuropathy patients for the improvement of proprioception sensation of lower limbs and improve the quality of life in diabetic neuropathy patients. Materials and Methods: Once the study is approved by the Institutional Review Board, 30 patients both male and female were selected from clinically diagnosed diabetic neuropathy. The study setting was in Chennai. The source population includes patient with a clear history of diabetes mellitus, the patient has symptoms of neuropathy such as numbness and tingling sensation of extremities, loss of sensations, and abnormal sensation (dysesthesia), for example, burning and electric pain and both male and female. The age group was within 40-55 years. The Patient who score <20 s in time up and go test. Patient who score 21-40 in berg balance scale (BBS) grading test. Clinically diagnosed diabetes mellitus. The study population excludes severe traumatic illness in lower limbs, poor vision that affects walking, severe cardiopulmonary insufficiency, presence of other forms of neuropathies such as mononeuropathy, severe pain, and muscle weakness, and psychiatric illness. The samples were fully explained about the benefits of participating in the study. They were asked to fill the consent form duly signed by the samples and therapist. Data regarding the balance were collected using the BBS and time up and go test. Result: The result of this study shows that both proprioception exercise training and backward walking training are effective in increasing proprioception sensation of lower limbs. However, proprioception exercise training was better than backward walking training in improving the proprioception sensation of lower limbs among diabetic neuropathy patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]