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R. Singh1, S. Goodwin1, M. Henk1, J. Manalil1, D. Marshall1
1Russell Sage College, Physical Therapy, Troy, United States
Background: More than 30% of all patients with diabetes experience a common complication of diabetes called Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN). It leads to decreased sensation, proprioception, reflexes, and strength in the lower extremities, leading to balance and gait dysfunction.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of multisensory training to minimize balance and gait dysfunction in people with DPN. Multisensory training is dened as a unique training approach including the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems.
Methods: Currently, no systematic review exists that explores the effectiveness of this intervention. When conducting this systematic review, a thorough search of the electronic databases CINAHL, Cochrane Review, and Medline using specic search terms from May 2019 - June 2019 was performed. Two independent reviewers analyzed the abstracts obtained to determine if the article focused on multisensory intervention that are within the scope of physical therapy practice. All study designs were included for review with the exception of case reports and systematic reviews. PEDRo was used to assess methodological quality. The literature search and methods assessment resulted in 2205, 85 abstracts and 184 articles, which were narrowed down to 9 that were deemed acceptable.
Results: Results from these 9 articles showed improvements in participants’ balance and gait using outcome measures such as the Time Up and Go test, POMA/Tinetti test and handheld dynamometer. A total of 7 articles used questionnaires assessing participants’ condence which showed an increased belief that they could perform certain activities and felt as if they were less likely to fall while performing them. Some outcome measures did not show statistically signicant improvements however, indicating that more research should be done to fully understand the effects of multisensory training. Based on these results, physical therapists should take an interest in adding multisensory training protocols to their interventions to aid in the improvement of balance and gait of individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Conclusion(s): Multisensory training improves independence, limits the number of falls, drives neuroplasticity and leads to a better functional life.
Implications: The intervention is cost effective and feasible to use in any physical therapy setting due to the ability to use this training with equipment that is usually found in clinics such as gait training on different surfaces.
Funding, acknowledgements: N/A
Keywords: Diabetes, Multisensory Training, Neuropathy
Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Did this work require ethics approval? No
Institution: Russell Sage College
Committee: IRB
Reason: It is a systematic review completed by DPT students under the guidance of PT Faculty member
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
