Effect of Proprioceptive Exercises on Lower Extremity Proprioception in Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy

Aims: Exercise is a unique therapeutic strategy for improving metabolic disorders and risk factors for diabetes and may directly enhance nerve regeneration and function. This study was conducted to determine the effect of proprioception practice on lower extremity proprioception in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Materials Methods: This study was an interventional and clinical trial. The population of this study was all patients with diabetic neuropathy who were referred to Abol Abbas and Kourosh clinics in Isfahan in 2020. The sample size in each of the two control groups and proprioceptive exercises group were considered 23 people. Data collection tools included the Michigan Neuropathy Assessment Tool, the Toronto Clinical Rating System, and the goniometer. The proprioceptive exercise was performed for six weeks. Forty-eight hours after the interventions, the goniometer test was performed again. Chi-square, Independent t-test, and Mann-Whitney tests compared the groups using SPSS 21 software. Findings: After the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups of proprioception practice with the control group (p 0.0001). Before and after proprioceptive exercises, there was a statistically significant difference in the proprioceptive exercises group (p 0001). However, before and after the proprioceptive exercises, there was no statistically significant difference in the control group (p 0.05). Conclusion: proprioceptive exercises could improve the sense of depth in patients with diabetic neuropathy.