Abstract
Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) changes leg muscle coordination during walking and reduces stability. The aim of this study was to determine whether rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) affected the gait performance of patients with DPN. Methods: Forty DPN patients (mean age, 59.1 ± 9.4 y) were randomly allocated to RAS and control groups in equal numbers. The participants in each group underwent 2 weeks of supervised rehabilitative treatment (40 min/day) as inpatients. This included walking twice a day, during which the RAS group participants walked in time with a metronome set at a self-chosen, comfortable rate. We compared gait function, lower limb muscle co-contraction, and gait stability before and after the intervention for both groups, calculated the change in score for each parameter, and assessed differences between the groups with unpaired t-tests and ANCOVA. Results: RAS was associated with significant improvement in all parameters. In the control group, there was no improvement in cadence, co-contraction, or gait stability (vertical). Compared with the control group, the RAS group showed improvement in co-contraction and gait stability. Conclusion: RAS may be helpful for improving the lower limb muscle coordination and gait function of DPN patients.
Highlights
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) afflicts more than half of all diabetic patients and is associated with a high level of morbidity [1]
Our results showed that rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) intervention improved the muscle activity and stability of DPN patients during walking
The control group showed mild to moderate improvements in walking speed, step length, and root mean square (RMS) waist acceleration, and there was no significant change in cadence, contraction index (CI), or vertical waist acceleration
Summary
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) afflicts more than half of all diabetic patients and is associated with a high level of morbidity [1]. DPN patients have a lower gait velocity, decreased cadence, shorter stride length, increased stance time, and greater step-to-step variability [9]. These gait alterations increase when walking on irregular surfaces [9]. DPN patients exhibit lower ankle moment and ankle power compared with healthy controls, as well as a different onset and cessation time of muscle activity [5]. These patients present more co-contractions of agonist and antagonist muscles at the ankle and knee joints during the stance phase. Conclusion: RAS may be helpful for improving the lower limb muscle coordination and gait function of DPN patients
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
