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Effect of Physical Therapy in Improving the Health of Patients With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

The Effectiveness of Strength and Balance Training in Patients With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy on Quality of Life and Functional Status: a Randomized Controlled Trial With Cost-utility Analysis

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02115932
Acronym
DPN-QoL
Enrollment
143
Registered
2014-04-16
Start date
2014-07-30
Completion date
2018-03-16
Last updated
2018-07-10

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

Conditions

Diabetic Neuropathies, Peripheral Nervous System Diseases

Keywords

Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Diabetes Complications, Diabetic Foot, Diabetic Neuropathies, Gait, Balance, Postural, Muscle Strength, Exercise Therapy, Physical Therapy Modalities, Endocrine System Diseases, Peripheral Nervous System Diseases, Metabolic Diseases, Glucose Metabolism Diseases, Quality of Life, Training

Brief summary

People with diabetes can have nerve damage in their extremities (peripheral neuropathy), and this can lead them to being less able to maintain their balance when they are standing, walking or performing complex movement tasks in their day-to-day life. This results in them being more prone to falls, and consequent injuries. The purpose of this study is to determine whether providing strength and balance retraining (in the form of specific physical exercises or activities) can help people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy regain their ability to maintain their balance, increase their confidence in performing balance-based activities and improve their quality of life.

Detailed description

Individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) comprise 16-24% of patients with diabetes mellitus in Singapore, and this is set to rise with the increasing prevalence of diabetes. DPN is also associated with the greatest reduction in health related quality of life (HRQoL) among all diabetic complications, specifically PCS (Physical health Component Summary) and its sub-components, physical functioning and physical role. However, there is currently no intervention that targets individuals with DPN for improvements in HRQoL and functional status. The investigators hypothesise that a targeted intervention providing strength and balance training will improve HRQoL and functional status in patients with DPN, which will be sufficiently large relative to increases in cost to make the intervention cost-efficient. The specific aims of the study are to test the effectiveness of a structured strength and balance training intervention in 1) improving the physical health component summary (PCS) measure of health related quality of life, 2) functional status, and 3) assessing cost-utility of the intervention, in individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

Interventions

OTHERStrength & Balance Training

Subjects will be guided through 8 weeks (1 hour per week) of home-based strength and balance training sessions. During each session, a trainer will guide subjects to perform muscle strengthening, range of motion, static balance, dynamic balance and endurance exercises, after an initial warm up. They will also be given advice on continuing such training as well as daily walking for the rest of the week.

Sponsors

National Medical Research Council (NMRC), Singapore
CollaboratorOTHER_GOV
National University Hospital, Singapore
CollaboratorOTHER
National University Health System, Singapore
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Individuals aged 40 - 75 * Clinical diagnosis of Type II Diabetes Mellitus * Presence of peripheral neuropathy (defined as neurothesiometer reading greater than 25 V and/or positive monofilament test in 2 or more sites in either foot)

Exclusion criteria

* Foot ulceration/ infection/ amputation * Medical contraindication for physical activity or physiotherapy * Non-diabetic neuropathy * Orthopaedic/ Surgical/ Medical conditions affecting functional mobility and balance not due to diabetes or neuropathy (E.g. Stroke, Prosthesis use, Osteoarthritis) * Retinopathy * End-Stage Renal Disease requiring dialysis * Congestive Heart Failure

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Physical health component summary (PCS) of HRQoL from baseline at 2 and 6 monthsBaseline, 2 and 6 monthsPhysical Component Summary measured by SF-36 v2 questionnaire (norm-based score with mean of 50 and SD of 10 in general population)
Change in EQ5D HUI from baseline at 2 and 6 monthsBaseline, 2 and 6 monthsHealth Utility Index measured using EQ5D (range 0-1)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Functional Status from baseline at 2 and 6 monthsBaseline, 2 and 6 monthsFunctional Status measured using Timed Up and Go, Sit to Stand 5, Functional Reach, and activities based balance confidence tests
Change in other domains of HRQoL from baseline at 2 and 6 monthsBaseline, 2 and 6 monthsDomains of HRQoL measured by SF-36 v2 questionnaire ((norm-based score with mean of 50 and SD of 10 in general population)
Change in static balance from baseline at 2 and 6 monthsBaseline, 2 and 6 monthsstatic balance measured by a portable balance platform
Cost-utility of intervention measured by cost per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) gained2 months of intervention

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of subjects reporting falls and Injuries during the study6 monthsSubjected-reported falls and injuries
Change in gait from baseline at 2 and 6 monthsBaseline, 2 and 6 monthsgait measured by a gait analysis platform
Change in range of motion at ankle and knee from baseline at 2 and 6 monthsBaseline, 2 and 6 monthsrange of motion at ankle and knee measured using a hand-held inclinometer
Change in muscle strength at ankle from baseline at 2 and 6 monthsBaseline, 2 and 6 monthsmuscle strength at ankle measured using a hand-held dynamometer

Countries

Singapore

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 2, 2026