Alter-G Training on Gait and Balance in Diabetic Neuropathy Patients

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).