Sensorimotor Training and Gait in Diabetic Polyneuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common chronic complication of diabetes mellitus which results in high public health costs and has a huge impact on patients' quality of life. It leads to sensory and motor deficits, which often result in mobility-related dysfunction, and alterations in gait characteristics. These alternations in gait performance cause increase in the risk of fall, which has the strongest association with symptoms of depression in patients with diabetes. However, little is known about possible treatment strategies for improving gait ability and reduce risk of fall in patients with diabetic neuropathy. So, the purpose of this study will be to investigate the effect of sensorimotor training on ankle muscle strength, gait and quality of life in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. To determine if there is an effect for sensorimotor training on gait, ankle muscle strength and quality of life in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the patient will be assessed before and after 6 weeks of treatment by measurement of ankle muscles strength using isokinetic dynamometer, measurement of different spatiotemporal gait parameters using gait trainer instrument , and assessment of quality of life of the patients using HRQL questionnaire (SF-36) before and after the treatment sessions.