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Pneumatic Medicine: A Transformative Treatment for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Phase 2 Study of the NormaTec PCD in the Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01175928
Enrollment
60
Registered
2010-08-05
Start date
2010-10-31
Completion date
2012-09-30
Last updated
2012-04-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetic Polyneuropathy

Keywords

Diabetic polyneuropathy, Pneumatic Compression Device

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the NormaTec PCD, a non-invasive pneumatic compression device with the patented peristaltic pulse pneumatic waveform, in the treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN). The study will compare treatment with a NormaTec PCD and a sham device to assess whether the NormaTec PCD improves the signs and symptoms of DPN.

Detailed description

Diabetes frequently leads to decreased sensation in the legs caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). DPN is an important risk factor for the development of foot ulceration, one of the most common causes for hospital admissions and lower-limb amputations among diabetic patients. However, to date there are no medications currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat DPN. The goal of this research project is to assess the effectiveness of a non-invasive, patented peristaltic pulse pneumatic compression device (the NormaTec PCD) in a home treatment program to improve the symptoms of DPN (e.g. numbness, pain, and tingling in the legs) and the underlying functioning of the nerves in the legs (as determined by sensory perception assessments and Nerve Conduction Studies testing). In this prospective, randomized, double-blind study, subjects will be randomly placed in one of two groups: a control group using a sham NormaTec PCD (placebo); and an experimental group using a NormaTec PCD.

Interventions

DEVICESham device

Home treatment with PCD to both legs: 2 sessions of 1 hour duration every day

DEVICENormaTec PCD (Peristaltic Pulse PCD)

Home treatment with PCD to both legs: 2 sessions of 1 hour duration every day

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
CollaboratorNIH
NormaTec Industries LP
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patient diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes * Patient diagnosed with distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DPN) attributable to diabetes * A1C ≤ 11% * Abnormal peroneal motor nerve conduction study where CMAP amplitude is less than 4 mV bilaterally.

Exclusion criteria

* Refuses consent * Unlikely to be compliant with the research protocol as judged by the clinical investigator * Neuropathy documented to be caused by something other than diabetes * Medication for neuropathic pain initiated within the previous 3 months (to avoid confounding the results of the study) * Medication for glucose control changed within the previous 3 months (to avoid confounding the results of the study) * Documented DVT within the previous 3 months (since an acute DVT is a contraindication for Pneumatic Medicine treatment) * Significant hepatic disease as judged by the clinical investigator (that might cause neuropathy unrelated to diabetes) * Documented cancer treatment within the past 5 years (that might cause neuropathy unrelated to diabetes) * History of exposure to neurotoxins or heavy metals (that might cause neuropathy unrelated to diabetes) * Documented alcohol or drug abuse (that might cause neuropathy unrelated to diabetes) * Documented major psychiatric disorder (that could contribute to non-adherence to the protocol) * Presence of a major lower extremity amputation (since unable to perform bilateral distal sensory perception testing of the feet and NCS on the peroneal motor nerve) * Significant peripheral arterial disease defined as an ankle-brachial index (ABI) \< 0.6 (to avoid critical limb ischemia and thus the high likelihood of the patient requiring a major amputation in the near future with drop out from the study) * Severe lower extremity edema as judged by the clinical investigator (in order to not confound the results) * End stage DPN where the peroneal motor nerve conduction results of both legs show an Amplitude = 0 mV * Currently participating in another clinical trial

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Nerve Conduction Studies3 monthsNerve conduction studies of the peroneal motor nerve performed bilaterally (amplitude, velocity, distal latency).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Sensory perception measurementsbaseline; 1 month; 2 months; 3 monthsNon-invasive sensory perception will be assessed with a 10-g monofilament (pressure); a 128 Hz tuning fork and a Neurothesiometer (vibration); a toothpick (sharp sensation); a cotton ball (soft sensation); an iced tuning fork (cold sensation); and calculation of the Neuropathy Disability Score.
Quality of life questionnairesbaseline; 1 month; 2 months; 3 monthsThe following questionnaires will be self-administered: Norfolk Quality-of-Life Questionnaire for Diabetic Neuropathy (QOL-DN); Neuropathy Total Symptom Score-6 (NTSS-6); Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID)

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026