Range of Motion and Plantar Pressure Evaluation for the Effects of Self-Care Foot Exercises on Diabetic Patients with and Without Neuropathy

by MASS4D® Prescription Orthotics November 18, 2016

The primary objective of this study was to establish whether there is a plantar pressure difference between patients, with and without diabetic neuropathy.

The effect of a program of self-care home exercises consisting of stretching and strengthening exercises on the range of motion (ROM) for the ankle and other foot joints, was evaluated.

Eighty patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM) were recruited for the study.

Demographic features of the patients, recent treatment of DM and physical examination findings were noted.

The ROMs for the ankle and first metatarsophalangeal joints of both feet, of each patient, were measured three times using a manual goniometer.

---

Offer your Patients a Custom Calibrated Insole with a 98% Patient Satisfaction Rate     know more

---

Plantarflexion and dorsiflexion were also measured with a universal goniometer.

The Neuropathy Disability Scores (NDSs) of all of the patients were calculated by a single trained clinician.

Patients were required to undergo pedobarography for plantar pressure assessment.

All the patients were divided into two groups - neuropathic (n = 40) and non neuropathic (n = 40).

Twenty patients from each group were given a home exercise program for self-care education.

Patients had to self-monitor their activity and record each day’s exercises on an activity log.

There was improvement of ROM for both foot joints, and significant reduction in static and dynamic pedobarographic values of plantar pressure in the home exercise program group at the second examination performed 4 weeks later, compared with the first examination before self-care education.

Copyright 2016 MASS4D® All rights reserved. 

---

Offer your Patients a Custom Calibrated Insole with a 98% Patient Satisfaction Rate     know more

---

References:

1. Lale Cerrahoglu, Umut Kosxan, Tuba Cerrahoglu Sirin, Aslihan Ulusoy (2016) Range of Motion and Plantar Pressure Evaluation for the Effects of Self-Care Foot Exercises on Diabetic Patients with and Without Neuropathy. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association: May/June 2016, Vol. 106, No. 3, pp. 189-200

---

Also in Clinicians Blog