Whole Body Vibration Reduces Sensory Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) on symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. METHODS: 9 diabetic neuropathy subjects (4 female, 5 male, 70 ± 14.46yrs) reported to our research lab 3 times/week for 6 weeks. Prior to week one (Pre), four (Mid) and after week 6 (Post), subjects completed a neuropathy pain scale (NPS) questionnaire, visual analog pain scale (VAS), static balance test, thermal threshold and tactile threshold assessments. All subjects followed a similar WBV treatment protocol. WBV (26Hz and 2mm amplitude) dosage was increased weekly. Week one, subjects completed 5 separate 60-second bouts with 60s rest between bouts. Week two, 3 separate 120-second bouts with 60s rest between bouts. Weeks 3–6, 5 separate 120-second bouts with 60s rest between bouts. Subjects performed all WBV bouts in a sitting position with legs at a 90° angle and feet placed on the vibration platform 8 inches apart. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed. Tukey post-hoc tests were completed where necessary. RESULTS: Pain, as measured by the VAS, significantly decreased from Pre-Post (p=0.0009). The NPS measured several different aspects of pain which showed significant reductions in Pre-Mid for: deep pain (p=0.0052), surface pain (p=0.0398), cold sensation (p=0.0223), and unpleasant “raw skin” sensation (p=0.038). Significant reductions in Pre-Post for: intense pain (p=0.0016), sharp pain (p=0.014), dull pain (p=0.0153), surface pain (p=0.0012), cold sensation (p=0.0089), itchy sensation (p=0.0243), and unpleasant “raw skin” sensation (p=0.0025). No significance was found in the static balance test, thermal threshold and tactile threshold assessments. CONCLUSION: WBV as a treatment option for reducing subjectively reported diabetic neuropathy symptoms appears promising. The static balance test may not have been sensitive enough to demonstrate improvement while the thermal thresholds had a high degree of variance as measured with the Quantitative Sensory Tester. More sensitive clinical measurements should be pursued in future studies. The improvement in the VAS and NPS scores merit continued research with a larger sample size, including a sham treatment, to better assess the efficacy of WBV as an alternative treatment option for diabetic neuropathy.