A Combination Effect of Sensory Motor Training and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in a Case of Peripheral Polyneuropathy Manifested by Foot Drop in Type II Diabetes Mellitus – A Case Study

Abstract

Peripheral neuropathy is one of the common complications in patients with diabetes Mellitus (DM) which leads to disrupting the peripheral nervous system resulting in reduce sensory inputs and motor outputs. Patients with foot drop (FD) will have weakness in dorsiflexor muscles of ankle and toe and sensory loss due to disruption of small myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers. Sensory motor training (SMT) will facilitate sensory inputs, correcting muscle imbalance, and ensuring correct program at the level of central nervous system whereas Proprioceptive Neuromuscular facilitation techniques (PNF) not only helps facilitating the weaker group of muscles also improve strength . Hence the purpose of the study to combine the effect on use of SMT along with PNF in a case of peripheral polyneuropathy manifested by foot drop in patient with type II DM. The case report study of 72 year old male patient diagnosed with diabetic polyneuropathy manifested by foot drop in type II diabetes mellitus on medication. Intervention of patient received Sensory motor training and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in foot drop for 5 days a week for 4 weeks and outcome measures used were Stanmore Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) , Diabetic Neuropathy Examination (DNE) score for diabetic neuropathy which were taken on day one and after 4 weeks of intervention and results shown improved on both the outcome measures which concluded that on combination of SMT and PNF techniques have shown efficacy on improving ankle range of motion and strength , sensory discrimination , thereby implementing these combination techniques, will reduce functional dependence and improve quality of life.