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

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).

Conditions

• Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Interventions

OTHER

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.

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill (100% weight-bearing) plus medications (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination).

OTHER

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.

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill (70% weight-bearing) plus medications plus medications (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination)

OTHER

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.

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill (50% weight-bearing) plus medications (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination)

OTHER

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.

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill (30% weight-bearing) plus medications (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination).

OTHER

Group- E; Control group

Control: No aerobic exercise training on the antigravity treadmill, but only medications (Biguanide alone or "Sulfonylureas plus Biguanide combination) throughout the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Umm Al-Qura University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ashraf Abdelaal · Umm Al-Qura University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-01-02

Primary Completion

2022-06-08

Completion

2022-06-08

Countries

• Saudi Arabia

Study Locations